Is it time to bring back P.O.W. bracelets?

[The Backlash Cometh]

Only maybe this time, we'll call them, P.P.O.W.'s for "Political Prisoners of War."

What a terrible situation we're in. Our politicians have no conscience because they seem happy with the only two options available to them: Either start a draft, or condemn tens of thousands of reluctant Yossarians to a Catch 22.

Anyway, if anyone see the merit in starting P.P.O.W. bracelets, please use this thread to share your ideas on how we'd go about doing it.

[ebayfool]

1. Rec'ed - that is very worth looking into, good idea!

I'm old enough that I wore one of the originals.

And he never came back.



Those bracelets kept VietNam in the forefront of the general public's 'mindseye'. Every name, on every bracelet ... no amount of spin could remove the 'face' that those bracelets put on it.

[Captain Angry]

2. My dad had a few bracelets from when he was in Viet Nam.

I think they were from guys from his squadron if I recall.

Now we don't even get pictures of the returning caskets.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. All the black paint on mine is worn off.

But it's an amazing metal. It doesn't set off alarms at airport security checkpoints. But it's also very bendable so it doesn't present a danger.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. I kept mine and started wearing it again at the beginning of this latest

war. Keep in mind that I was very, very young when I got it. So, I always thought that the date on the P.O.W. bracelet was the date that he went missing. Then, a couple of years back, we went on a trip to Washington D.C. and we visited the Vietnam War Memorial. I saw the books that were on display and, since I still had my bracelet on, I looked up my guy. I was shocked because the date on the bracelet was listed as the day he died. All that time I had envisioned that he made it back home and was living a full life. Though, that's probably why I never looked it up before. I just didn't want to know if I was wrong.

I also got to see what his middle name was and his hometown. Houston, Texas.

[Hekate]

3. When I read your title I immediately thought of our troops, enslaved by Bush

And now that I read your post, I see we are on the same page. What a great idea that would be: a bracelet with the name of every troop, tens of thousands of bracelets spread out over the whole country. Bring them home now.

Hekate

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. I have a suspicion, I'm going to get in trouble for this one.

[Hekate]

8. Anything to do with members of the military, living or dead, evokes strong feelings

Arlington West (http://www.vfpsb.org/arlington.html) has caused some controversy, although the response from the public and active military has been overwhelmingly positive.

Alas, a project to memorialize living soldiers that uses their names and portrays them as victims is likely to run into trouble. The idea is attractive, though, and might work if developed along different lines....

Hekate

[SeattleGirl]

5. I had one of those during the Vietnam years.

I don't know what happened to it.

[shenmue]

9. I think we should

It makes a fitting memorial.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. I do think we need to distinguish between those soldiers who are

actively fighting in Iraq vs. those who have fallen, though I don't think that the Vietnam bracelets differentiated between the two. At least, not judging by my experience.

[Longhorn]

11. There is a company that makes bracelets and dog tags.

www.herobracelets.org

They got the idea after the stations refused to air the Nightline episode during which the names of those killed in Iraq were read.

"First, to honor those serving, wounded in combat or killed in action. Wearing a HeroBracelet is profoundly simple way to show your respects to these brave men and women.

Second, we want to support the work the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has done to build The Center For The Intrepid in San Antonio. It is, without a doubt, the finest facility ever built for the rehabilitation of those wounded in combat. It was built with over $60 million raised entirely by donations from individuals and projects like HeroBracelets.

Since HeroBracelets.org was launched in December of 2004, we've made tens of thousands of bracelets honoring soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen, from WWII to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan."

I started off with a bracelet with the name of a soldier killed during the Jessica Lynch incident. Then a friend of my son's was killed in Iraq and I ordered a custom bracelet with his name: Lance Corporal Dominic C. Brown. When they started making bracelets for those who are deployed (and Purple Heart recipients,) I ordered a bracelet to honor my son, who is a Marine stationed in Japan.

I now wear a black dog tag honoring Dominic and a leather bracelet for my son, who is picking up sergeant this week.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. NICE FIND!

I wonder if there is a way to make sure this co. is on the level, and then give them some more exposure.

[Longhorn]

14. They are actually located not far from where I live, though I read about them online.

As I said, I've ordered from them for a couple of years now. They started off giving their money to a burn unit in San Antonio but when The Intrepid Center opened, they started giving to them instead. I think that would be the only question -- if the money actually reaches the center.

They mention on their site that there have been several stories published about them.

[Longhorn]

15. They are listed as a sponsor on the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund site.

http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/common/page.php?ref=our_contributors

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. This is interesting.

Did you happen to notice that Michael Dell and Exxon Mobil are on their lists?

I have a suspicion that why they're supporting the bracelets, would not be the same reason why we would. They want to continue this war, we want to end it. How do we differentiate the two points, using the same bracelet?

[Longhorn]

18. Dell is a huge contributor in this area to several causes that we all support.

I would hate to see the Intrepid Fund suffer because they draw contributions from sources with different perspectives.

I do have no doubt that the folks who make Hero Bracelets do it for the right reason. Their site is not political but they made it clear when they started that they were furious that this country was trying to hide the casualties of war.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. Good point.

Besides, only someone as obsessive as I am would dig deep enough and make that connection. :-)

[Longhorn]

20. I can say that I get asked about my bracelet and dog tag all the time

and I tell people that I am honoring a friend of my son who was killed in Iraq and I will not take it off until this terrible war is over. I also tell them how grateful I am that my son's bracelet is not black. I think I would go crazy if I could not perform this very small act of remembrance and protest.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. If it's okay with you, send your son's info and I'll wear his name as

a hero's bracelet.

[Longhorn]

22. How kind of you!

Thank you so much! :hug:

[NightWatcher]

13. this is a good idea

I wish as many people would wear these as wear the yellow Lance Armstrong bracelets. I see the yellow ones everyday and they make a point. We should honor our fallen with this so that they do not become just another number.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. Longhorn has found a website that does have the bracelets available,

though the people who are tied with the organization, seem to be ones who are also Bush supporters. So, we still may have to find a way to change them slightly so everybody understands that we support an end to the war.