By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – A group of Niles High School students have placed a new twist on a traditional symbol to show their support for U.S. troops.
The group of 16- and 17-year-olds has also been simultaneously voicing their opposition to the war in Iraq. It's a position they said they feel is their duty as American citizens.
"We're back here talking about it and we're safe. But we got people over there that are not safe and it's our duty to show them support, even if we don't support why we're over there," said Christopher Lemanski.
The Niles junior is one of about 20 students and some Niles staff who on March 19 – the four-year anniversary of the U.S. invading Iraq – tied yellow ribbons around their arms. The group passed out 130 yellow ribbons the bought with their own money, and Lemanski said the overall response from fellow students and staff was positive.
Erica Bolin, also a junior, said the ribbons are reflective of the old tradition, tie a yellow ribbon around a tree.
"We're like trees standing solid in support," Bolin said.
Most of the students that participated are about one year away from being eligible to vote and serve in the military, and Lemanski said those factors, along with his interest in politics and current events, sparked the idea for wearing the yellow ribbons.
"I just thought there's been a lot of negative stuff going on with the war and we need to support the troops. Even if we're minors and can't vote, we can still make an impact," he said.
Junior Azzaria Gunn said many in the group voiced opinions that opposition to the war does not mean they are not thankful and proud of the people who serve the country.
"Even if you're not for the war, and I'm not for the war, you can still support the troops," Gunn said.
The war in Iraq hits close to home for the students. Gunn has a cousin that has served in the conflict, Bolin's boyfriend has enlisted in the service and Lemanski said his best friend told him the other day he was joining the Air Force.
Classmate Dore'a Britton said both her uncles served in Vietnam and she's learned about the affect a war can have on a person.
Outside class, the students said they watch TV news and read stories about the war in Iraq on the Internet. They also discuss the topic among themselves.
Lemanski, Bolin, Gunn and Britton said there is a lack of discussion about the war in Iraq in classes and in the hallways. They said they wished the international situation would get more attention in class because so many high school students are closing in on the age of 18.
"If only more younger people cared," Bolin said, "there's a lot of us. Enough to make a change."
Lemanski said there are regular discussions on the topic of international conflicts in his critical issues class. He was a sixth grader when 9/11 happened, and it was the event that sparked his interest in world affairs, he added. "9/11 was probably the moment in my life when I became concerned about what happened," Lemanski said. "I didn't know who Osama bin Laden was or Al Qaeda, and that's when I decided I wanted to understand what was going on."
Britton said she has found history classes important in understanding the war because the lessons teach how to recognize when situations tend to repeat.
"History class is not just a class to bore us. It's something to pay attention to so we don't let it happen again," she said.