Pat Dollard | Young Americans

My daughter was just up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio today and saw this cemetery. She called me from her cell phone and said, “Mom, it’s incredible! You wouldn’t believe how it looks! You gotta look it up online and see if you can find the story to post on the site.”

Miles of yellow ribbons fly at Cuyahoga Falls cemetery

4,054 name tags count off lives lost in Iraq. Ribbons of Honor on display until July 4

By Marilyn Miller - Beacon Journal

(Originally Published on Sunday, May 18, 2008)

CUYAHOGA FALLS: As the wind blows, you can see miles of the bold-colored yellow ribbons swaying back and forth along the black iron fence of Oakwood cemetery.

The Ribbons of Honor are a tribute to soldiers who have lost their lives in Iraq from March 2003 to May 1, 2008. There are 4,054 name tags and ribbons on display.

Passers-by honked their horns and yelled out, ”Thank you for doing this,” to the volunteers who spent 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday putting the ribbons up.

”It’s an awesome sight,” said Marilyn Wester of Thomas Street, who was walking her dog as the last few volunteers did a final walk-through to make sure every ribbon and name tag was securely fastened to the fence. ”It makes a powerful visual statement. It really hits home.”

The idea was the brainstorm of Terry Anaszewicz, who said she saw a similar display in New York City last August while vacationing with two of her daughters. She brought the idea back to Mayor Don Robart. The city, along with A&C Welding Co., financed the $2,000 project.

”It’s so much easier to organize when you know the money part is taken care of and don’t have to add fundraising to your list,” said Anaszewicz.

Originally, the display was going to be at the Front Street Mall, but the entrance fence was not long enough. The ribbons stretch four miles around the cemetery at 2420 Oakwood Ave.

Family, friends, everybody Anaszewicz knew and some she didn’t came to help. ”Two teenage boys stopped by on their bikes Friday and asked how they could help,” said volunteer Patty Lehrman. ”They were hard workers and when they finished up Friday night, I jokingly said ‘You’re coming back tomorrow, right?’ And they actually did.”

Colton Lewis, 13, and Jesse Kleinen, 12, not only returned, but also brought reinforcements, two more friends.

”It felt good to be able to help,” Lewis said.

”They could have been playing or watching television, but they chose to help us out,” Lehrman said. ”We appreciate their support.”

A lot of thought went into the project, including the use of waterproof ribbons, vinyl outdoor waterproof labels with laser Egyptian lettering and plastic clothing tags instead of staples that rust.

The women also alphabetized all the names along the fence.

The Ribbons of Honor will be on display until July 4.

”We were trying to finish them before the Memorial Day parade, for the hundreds of people to see who will be coming down Oakwood Street,” Anaszewicz said. ”How ironic that the day we finished them just happens to be Armed Forces Day.”