FIELDSBORO, N.J. — A town that attracted nationwide attention by banning yellow ribbons on municipal property decided to allow the bows, with some limitations.
The borough council unanimously agreed last night to place two yellow ribbons on each of its three welcome signs. But the council will not allow more than two, and ribbons put up earlier in defiance of the ban most likely will be removed.
The sign where the dispute began three weeks ago now is plastered with ribbons, flags and signs supporting U.S. troops.
“We’re probably going to take all the ribbons off the signs and put on the two ribbons that we passed,” Mayor Edward “Buddy” Tyler said.
Exceptions were made for yellow ribbons on street light poles and a baseball field fence. The council also voted to adopt a resolution in support of U.S. troops.
The furor began when Tyler asked Diane Johnson, owner of a liquor store, to remove two ribbons that she tied to the borough welcome sign outside her store. Tyler said such displays are not allowed without prior approval by the council.
Johnson attended last night’s meeting, but she was unhappy with the council’s decision and left.
Her brother, John Hegyi, said the mayor started the dispute because of past political differences with the Hegyis’ father, former Fieldsboro Mayor Frank Hegyi.
“I think it’s a total disgrace what you’ve brought on this town,” John Hegyi said. “This was never meant as a political display. It was a heartfelt display by my sister.”
Some residents are so angry with Tyler that they are meeting with a political consultant about ways to have the mayor recalled from office.
Meanwhile, the Cedarburg, Wis., Common Council has voted unanimously to reverse a ban on the hanging of yellow ribbons on city property such as those put up elsewhere in support of U.S. troops.
The 7-0 vote last night to allow the ribbons as long as the war in Iraq continues came after City Administrator Clint Gridley recently said ribbons would not be allowed on city-owned property.
Gridley said allowing them would make it impossible for the northern Milwaukee suburb to prevent those supporting less-savory causes from hanging their ribbons.
Alderman Bob Loomis, who authored the resolution adopted by the council, said he and other aldermen had received dozens of phone calls and e-mails on the subject, most of them reflecting “consternation and embarrassment.”
Ribbons of any other color attached to public property would be illegal under the new city policy.
That irked Bob Braun of the Christian Civil Liberties Union.
Last night’s resolution “was worse than before” because it restricts free speech, Braun said.
“We’re going to sue them. If that’s the way they want to speak, then we’re going to sue them,” he said.
Braun said he has put up red ribbons to protest abortion, purple ribbons to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and black ribbons for Iraqis and Americans who have died in the war.
Loomis said aldermen believed allowing other ribbon colors would “dilute the show of support,” and that the causes promoted by Braun were divisive.