Ever since Tony Orlando first sang about it, the yellow ribbon has come to symbolize community support for people required to be away from home in trying circumstances.

These days with America at war, yellow ribbons are common around telephone poles, street lamps and mailboxes.

They also come in the form of vehicle magnets, and more cars seem to have them than not.

Marcia Connerly, whose son is serving with the Marines in Fallujah, Iraq, appreciated the car magnets from the start.

“What really was so wonderful was that they were staying on the cars,” she said.

But that’s not always the case anymore.

Connerly has had several magnets stolen from her vehicle, including one with her son’s rank and name on it. She also has heard from friends who have had magnets lifted.

While magnet theft isn’t a crime that many will choose to call the police about, Connerly hopes people will help stop such pranks if they witness a theft in progress. She also hopes that anyone who knows a magnet-stealer will voice their disdain for the act.

“These magnets don’t say ‘I support the war,’ or anything like that,” Connerly said. “They aren’t political.”

Yellow-ribbon magnets show soldiers’ families they aren’t alone in hoping for the safe return of our troops, she said.

Sporting yellow and patriotic-colored ribbon magnets can do more than show support. It can also provide money for families awaiting for the safe return of their loved one.

Family organizations for various Oregon National Guard groups – including the 116th Cavalry with local units bound for Iraq – are selling the magnets and other items at a variety of regional outlets.

While they cost a bit more than magnets at some retail locations, the proceeds help military families enjoy picnics and get-togethers so they can support each other during this time.

Hermiston-area families will benefit from the sale of car magnets and other items for sale at the East Oregonian office in Hermiston, as well as Rite-Aid Pharmacy and Safeway in Hermiston, and Hermiston Armory.

Families of the 116th Cavalry in Pendleton are selling both car magnets and cling stickers that can be placed inside the car. They are available at the East Oregonian’s Pendleton office, the Computer Guy, Spa-Tacular Backyards, Round-Up Electronics, Sears, the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute gift shop and the Pendleton armory.

Family groups are happy to provide magnets and other merchandise to any businesses willing to be a distribution point.

Outgoing Pendleton Family Coordinator Snow Taylor and La Grande Coordinator Pam Maliwuaki said they’ve been impressed with the positive response from people throughout the area.

“One lady in John Day wanted to sell magnets for us,” Maliwauki said, and that one person has raised $5,000 for the Pendleton group.

The families have enjoyed other acts of kindness, including a quilting club that made stockings for children of soldiers, and the recruiting staff in La Grande that made each child a military-type dog tag.

“Everyone in the area knows someone touched by the war,” Taylor said. “Everyone wants to help, and we are touched by that help.”