Distributing nearly 10 miles of yellow ribbon, The Times and Democrat and two co-sponsors over the weekend kicked off a campaign to give subscribers a way to show support for troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The catalyst for the campaign came when T&D Photographer Larry Hardy, now serving in the Middle East with his Army Reserve unit, suggested that yellow ribbons are a good sign of support for the troops.

The ribbons were distributed by T&D carriers Saturday and Sunday mornings. S.C. Electric and Gas Co., through its Cope Generating Station, and the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce joined as co-sponsors.

"The carriers were more than willing to distribute the ribbons," T&D Circulation Director Barbara West-Ravenel said. "For a lot of them, it was their way of showing support for the troops too. I think it's a positive thing for the troops to know that we're supporting them. All the feedback I've gotten about the yellow ribbon campaign has been very positive."

Good feelings about the campaign are not limited to T&D staffers. Some subscribers expressed gratitude and support of the campaign.

"I think the campaign is a great idea," Geneva Heggins said. "In fact, just before the T&D distributed its ribbons, my husband and I had ordered yellow bows from the florist to display, showing our support for the troops. So when we got the T&D ribbons, we immediately put them up."

Also enthusiastic in her support of the troops, another subscriber anxiously displayed the ribbon as well.

"Now we've got two yellow ribbons on our front door," Mrs. Francis Dixon said. "My husband got excited when he saw the T&D yellow ribbon and added to the one we had. I think the campaign is a very positive thing. Right now, we should direct our prayers and anything else we can do to make things better for those overseas."

Dixon said her church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Swansea, has started a campaign of its own for the troops in the Middle East.

"We have a letter-writing campaign going," she said. "We are writing the servicemen to let them know how much we appreciate them and to let them know that they're on our prayer list. We do that for the active servicemen and the reserves."

West-Ravenel said there are a few ribbons left. If any subscriber did not receive a ribbon and wishes to be a part of the campaign, he or she should call the newspaper at 533-5500.

T&D Staff Writer Thomas Brown can be reached by e-mail at tbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5532.

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