WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Tie a Yellow Ribbon

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

St. Albans, Vermont - November 11, 2009

Believing many hands make light work, these wives and mothers of Vermont guardsmen spent part of their Veterans Day decorating.

"I love the idea," said Nancy Pearo, the mother of a Task Force Phoenix soldier.

But with no old oak trees to tie their yellow ribbons 'round-- they found something else.

"We tied it to the Christmas tree!!" exclaimed Marianne Green, the wife of a Task Force Phoenix soldier.

They're turning the evergreen in Green's St. Albans yard into a tribute to Task Force Phoenix-- the brigade now preparing to serve in Afghanistan.

"It's a small tribute to a lot of people who have given a lot since way back," Green said.

As much as the project is about the soldiers, it's a way for their loved ones back in Vermont to bond and support each other.

"Being that this is my first deployment, it's hard, not knowing what to expect," said Jen Chalifoux, the wife of a Task Force Phoenix soldier. "But being with other people doing the same thing makes it easier."

"Some of us deal really well, some have a hard time. We need to be there for the ones that have a hard time," Green explained.

Nancy Pearo's ribbon stands for her son Casey. But she wants it to send a message to all 1,200 Vermonters serving with him.

"We're proud of them, we wish them well, and a safe return," she said.

The tree is a work in progress. Marianne Green hopes more people will make ribbons to hang, and is optimistic a landscaping company may lend a cherry picker to hang more lights. She wants the tree looking good until the troops come home from Afghanistan.

"We don't even have to call it a Christmas tree-- it's a guard tree," she said.

The women hope their effort catches on as we count down to Mission Afghanistan.

"Man, you can imagine if there was one of these trees in every neighborhood all decorated? It would be pretty cool," Green said.

There's a lot more room on Marianne Green's tree -- and a lot of dedication to fill it up.

"Hopefully I do a good job. As good a job as my husband does!" she does.

Contact Marianne Green if you want to help.

Some of the women will be holding a can drive this Saturday morning at Hometown Beverage in St. Albans. They'll be raising money to give to Operation Holiday Homecoming-- the effort to fly 700 guard members back from training for Christmas. That drive starts at 8:30 Saturday.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News