I'll never forget Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon, nephew of a friend, who died 3/23/03 in Iraq at the age of 21.
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Posted on 12/20/2004 6:35:27 AM PST by Tatze
'Hero bracelets' pay honor to the fallen
By BILL HENDRICK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/20/04
Army Capt. Kristopher Mitchell of Columbus bought one in memory of a friend killed in Afghanistan. Navy Lt. j.g. Kelly Weaverling of Athens ordered her "hero bracelet" to simply honor fallen comrades. So did Airman 1st Class Jana Allen-Wugh of Valdosta.
Thousands of Americans are doing the same, from Baghdad to Boise. The stark black bracelets, each poignantly bearing the name of one of the more than 1,300 men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, are being ordered so fast over a frazzled Texan's Web site (herobracelets.org) that he's had to issue an urgent call for volunteers among the ranks of Austin's business leaders.
Not to mention his friends, neighbors, wife, daughters, other relatives and anyone looking to do a good deed.
In just three weeks, more than 1,000 bracelets have been shipped, and at least that many more are back-ordered, said Chris Greta, the 46-year-old Austin advertising entrepreneur who dreamed up the idea.
"Since I started doing this, [service people in Iraq] have become very real to me," Greta said. "There are a lot of people out there who really want to do something and really care about these guys."
Each bracelet costs $8.50, including shipping, and Greta has pledged to donate $2 for each one he sells to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which so far has funneled $11 million to families of dead troops. The New York nonprofit group has deployed its lawyers and business experts to help Greta "cross all the t's and dot all the i's," said Bill White, the group's president.
Greta also offers custom bracelets for $12. Mitchell bought one of those in honor of his Citadel classmate, Capt. Daniel Eggers, who was killed May 29. Weaverling, Allen-Wugh and most folks are simply ordering names at random to honor all slain service people.
Though it's been common in war for centuries for people to try to capitalize on the dead, that's not what Greta is doing, White said. And Greta has been thoroughly vetted by Intrepid's lawyers, who are trying to help him break even and not go into debt while still making the donations to which he's committed.
"It's just exploded," Greta said. "I find myself choking up a half-dozen times a day. I get an e-mail from someone ordering a bracelet for a friend or family member. Or I come across a name in the pile of bracelets that stands out. My wife was wearing one at work, and a woman asked about it. She cried when she learned what it was.
"I didn't think this through," he said. "I don't know where it will go. It was just something that had to be done, and this time it was my turn."
Jeff Connally, a 57-year-old Austin businessman and college business professor, has helped mobilize accountants, lawyers and other professionals to keep Greta's bracelet operation going.
"Chris'll be lucky if he doesn't lose money," he said. "But he's dedicated to this."
Those who have purchased bracelets are grateful that someone has found a way to honor the dead.
"I bought one with the name of the boy who died just a few days ago," said Sylvia Seawright of Newnan, who heard about the bracelets from a friend. "He was wounded, got out of the hospital to go back to his men, then got killed. We should be willing to support them and the families they leave behind."
She was referring to Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffery Blanton, 23, of Senoia, who was killed in Fallujah just two days after leaving the hospital. Her bracelet bearing his name hasn't arrived yet because customized ones take a little longer to handle.
Families are also grateful.
"These bracelets have made a tough year a little better," said Vietnam veteran James Holland, 56, of Brunswick, whose only son, Spc. Christopher Holland, 26, was killed in Iraq in December 2003.
Mitchell, Weaverling and Allen-Wugh, all stationed in Baghdad, read about the bracelets in the military newspaper Stars & Stripes. Mitchell bought a bracelet to honor his pal Eggers, a "role model" of his at the Citadel, which has established a fund in Eggers' memory, with a link to it from its Web site.
Weaverling said "wearing the bracelet reminds me, and all of us here, exactly why we are here and what so many have given up to help the Iraqi people."
"It is an honor and a privilege to wear this bracelet that bears the name of one of my fellow service members," she said. "We are all family."
Allen-Wugh, 21, said she ordered her bracelet to keep people from forgetting "the sacrifices service members make."
After the Web site was published, orders trickled in. First five, then 75, then 150, then 200, and now more than Greta and his volunteers can keep up with.
Greta had to increase the price to $8.50 from $7 for a standard bracelet to stay out of the red. He's stopped allowing people to order bracelets with specific names until sometime in January, "but we'll get that going again because there's a huge demand."
Meantime, he said, "We're working like crazy to keep up. We're gathering a bunch of MBA types to help us. People are volunteering all the time, guys who run some of Austin's most successful tech companies. It's pretty nice."
Ping!!
What a great new trend I don't like.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I really don't want to wear a cheap bracelet. Since the 'livestrong' bracelet there's been a growing crop of these things. My wife even tried to get me to wear one.
I never wore a 'cause' ribbon, and I don't want to be guilted about not wanting a cheap rubber band around my wrist.
Not sure what to think of this- the military has been doing this for a long time- they're called KIA bracelets- my son wears one in memory of a sarg from his unit who was KIA when they were in Iraq last year.
Not sure if I like this idea...and I can't even say why..
Well, they do send a portion of the cost to the Intrepid Fallen Hero's Fund, which goes to the families of soldiers killed. But I guess we could make straight donations to them as well.
Ditto. I wonder if we're becoming a nation of feel-good, look-at-me-I-support-these-worthy-causes do-nothings.
When I started seeing the "Support Our Troops" magnetic ribbons on cars, I thought, "Wow, that's really neat. I wonder which charity is selling those to support our troops." Then, I found out the truth. The magnet sellers are just cashing in on sentiments. How naive of me to have thought otherwise.
I think I would MUCH rather send the approximate 10.00 to the www.uso.org or www.woundedwarriorproject.org
BOTH are tax deductible...
Everytime I see someone I know wearing one of those stupid yellow bracelets I ask: "Hey, Is that a Do Not Resuscitate band or an Empty Scrotum Sympathy Band?"
When they respond that it's a 'Lance' bracelet, I say: "Wow, sorry about your testicle...."
just remember what happened to Kramer when he wouldnt wear a ribbon!!
Who? Who will not wear the ribbon?!
I had a POW Bracelet when I was a little girl...somehow this doesn't quite feel the same....
quite possibly my favorite seinfeld episode!
I'd be interested in the custom, personalized ones of a lost family member.
Anything that anyone does to commemorate those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom is appreciated.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
I'll never forget Lance Corporal Patrick Nixon, nephew of a friend, who died 3/23/03 in Iraq at the age of 21.
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