By Teri Carnicelli

    For Trina Hughes, whose son is on his second tour in Iraq, the color red became a symbol of putting her fear aside—or at least, pushing it to the background—and a reminder to herself and others that thousands of young men and women, including her son, are still far from home, doing a dangerous job that most of us wouldn’t dream of doing.

    Hughes, a single mother of two, had heard that people were wearing red on Fridays as a show of support to the U.S. troops still serving in, and being sent to, Iraq and Afghanistan, and as a means of reminding people “that our loved ones are still over there,” Hughes explains.

 

After her son, Army Specialist Christopher Hughes, 23, was first sent to Iraq more than two years ago, she started wearing red on Fridays at her place of employment, Hansen Mortuary at 8314 N. 7th St.

Christopher returned to the states, and to his wife and two young children, in November 2007. He and his family are based in Fort Bragg, N.C. He got his orders to return to Iraq, and left again on Dec. 4, 2008.

    Prior to his departure, his mother sent an e-mail to her friends and colleagues  informing them about Christopher’s return to Iraq and asking for their support by wearing something red on Friday. “That’s what I have been doing since the first time he left,” she wrote, adding, “I have not missed a day yet.”

    Hughes was overwhelmed by the e-mails and phone calls she received in response to her note, many of whom pledged to wear red on Fridays and help spread the word themselves.

    Hughes realized that not everyone has something bright red in their wardrobes to wear, so she and a friend began to make red ribbon lapel pins to hand out to those who didn’t have red apparel or who wanted to show their support in a more subtle way. Each ribbon has colored start in the center, sometimes silver, sometimes white, sometimes blue or red. For her, the star is representative of her son.

    Geri Rosato, a visitor to Hansen Mortuary, was one of the first recipients of the red ribbons. She saw the red sweater and ribbon that Hughes was wearing and asked about their significance.

    “When she told me about her son in Iraq, and that her other son, Joseph, was enlisting in the Army after he graduates in June, my heart just went out to her,” Rosato said.

Rosato now wears her red ribbon regularly. She’s impressed by Hughes’ stoicism, given that she sees the results of losing a loved one almost every day.     “It’s really a positive thing that she’s doing, and I admire her for that. She’s being patriotic, and inspiring others to show their support also.”

Hughes points out that it doesn’t matter if you believe that America should be involved in a war in Iraq or not; the point is to show the troops that we haven’t forgotten about them and their sacrifices.

    She carries the ribbons with her in a small zippered bag, ready to hand out to anyone who is interested.

She knows that when her youngest son, Joseph, a senior at Washington High School, graduates and leaves immediately for boot camp, her spirit will be sorely tested.

    “Every day is about trying to stay on the positive side of it,” she says. “This is not easy, but I will keep on smiling.”