After the trauma of Sept. 11, 2001, I remember seeing flags emerging everywhere around me, as if our very tears had caused them to sprout.

It didn’t take long, however, before I started looking past them blindly. The sight of them simply no longer made an impression on me. What happened?

Their meaning had been taken away by sheer overuse.

Now I see the same trend being reincarnated in those little yellow ribbons that everyone sticks on their cars. As with the American flag, the ribbon sticker is displayed as an act of remembrance and support, but while it may bring some comfort to those stationed over in Iraq (that is, if they ever see it), what is it really doing to help them?

Once retailers got a hold of the ribbon symbol, organizations from breast cancer research to autism awareness, to the Asian tsunami disaster, and even professional ball teams began using it to their advantage. As a result of this, many would argue that the ribbon is now just an empty gesture, used in excess – that it is “prepackaged sentiment for a profit,” according to Jay Barnes, author of the Anti-Magnet Web site, which makes fun of the high-selling rate of these ribbons.

I would have to agree; is there any validity left to these symbols? In his article, “How the Yellow Ribbon Became a National Folk Symbol,” Gerald E. Parsons describes the history behind the meaning of the yellow ribbon, saying that originally, it was a “banner through which families could express their determination to be reunited.” But also, I think, he shows just how that meaning has been universalized when he said he needed to buy some flowers, so he explained to the proprietress that he needed an arrangement for a cemetery ornament.

“And would you like some yellow ribbon to tie around it?” the proprietress asked matter-of-factly.

Parsons didn’t specify whether or not the deceased was a military veteran (I assume not), but this just goes to show how sooner or later, with continued overuse, this once meaningful symbol is going to become passé. And then what will we do? Start wearing camouflage to show our support?

I’ve known a few people who display the yellow ribbon on their car because they are disturbed at the war and don’t know what else to do. My suggestion to them would be to stop putting their money toward something that does absolutely nothing for our troops. Instead, take some action. Find a reputable charity and donate a little money toward care packages, or even just send an anonymous letter to any platoon thanking them for the things they do.

One Web site that specializes in care packages is www.anysoldier.com. Rather than request money for the war effort, the site requests such things as food and hygiene items – things the soldiers can actually use. I think this is better than any monetary gift anyone can provide. Judging from the huge positive response over in Iraq, our soldiers do, too.

Whether you support the war itself, the people fighting it do deserve our support, but simply saying you support them isn’t going to cut it. You have to take action, or whatever words you say will be meaningless.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.