• Article Photo. Soldier Joseph Robinson's ribbon hangs from a branch on an evergreen tree in Shellsburg.
    Soldier Joseph Robinson's ribbon hangs from a branch on an evergreen tree in Shellsburg.
  • Article Photo. The personnel of Coop's Roadhouse honor Shellsburg soldiers with yellow ribbons on this tree.
    The personnel of Coop's Roadhouse honor Shellsburg soldiers with yellow ribbons on this tree.

 

     A tradition that became a nation-wide sensation 20 years ago, when U.S. Soldiers first went to the Middle East for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm has returned in a small way to Shellsburg, to honor soldiers from that area.

     An evergreen tree in downtown Shellsburg, next to the sign that offers community updates, is covered in Christmas lights yellow ribbons. Each ribbon contains the name of an active military member with ties to the Shellsburg area.

    Shelly Phelps and the rest of the crew at Coops Roadhouse, across the street from the tree, is responsible for the display. They wanted to try to honor every soldier from the Shellsburg area that they know is in active duty now. That list continues to grow; anyone who has a soldier whose name they want to add is invited to stop at Coops.

     Next year, said Phelps, the business plans to repeat the tribute, perhaps with a more solid structure made from wood.

     So far, the names of Shellsburg area soldiers honored with the ribbons include:

Forrest Peters

Tim Harrelson

Todd Tumilty

Joseph Robinson

Aaron Seaton

Michael Greider

Taylor Cort

Eric and Eron Lindsey

Matthew Bendickson

Kyle Brewer

Jared Parmater

Ryan Brehm

Charlie Martin

Kevin Atkinson

Tabatha Lattier

Aaron Mealhow

Codi Walter

Kristopher Gordon