Photos by Walter Horylev.

Debbie Bausch affixes one of 34 yellow ribbons crafted by helper Carol Dueul, owner of The Creator's Hand Flower Shop, to one of the trees on Main Street in Hilton. Debbie had the idea, and made it happen, to honor Hilton's service men and women, especially her son Marine Corporal Nicholas Bausch who is serving in Iraq. The women placed the yellow ribbons on each section of the Gazebo near the Hilton Community Center and on trees and signs in the commercial areas of Hilton. Carol hopes to have more ribbons up soon as she recently learned that she was a winner of 1,000 feet of yellow ribbon awarded by fundraising.com.

The "Yellow Ribbon Brigade" marches down Hilton's Main Street to the next attachment site led by Tim and Jessica Bausch, followed by Carol Dueul and Debbie Bausch.

She hasn’t talked to her son in months but Debbie Bausch is sending a colorful show of support to her child who is overseas fighting for our freedom.

Bausch decided one afternoon that when her son came home, he would be welcomed by dozens and dozens of yellow ribbons. "We want the guys to know when they come home that their village supported them and we will welcome them home with open arms," she said. "I remember Viet Nam, when the guys really didn’t get a proper welcome home."

As Bausch and her husband, Rick, await word from their son, Cpl. Nicholas Bausch, who is serving with the 1st Marine Division, 2nd Tank Battalion in Kuwait, she has been busy decorating her home, and the village of Hilton with yellow ribbons. Nicholas, 23, was deployed on January 19. "He’s in the reserves and he’s been on call since 9/11," Bausch explained.

Bausch, a life long resident, and graduate of Hilton, was married on January 14 … just days before he was shipped out to Camp Lejeune. She said her son’s unit left Kuwait on March 20 and went across the border into Baghdad. "According to a report from Nicholas’ commanding officer, his unit made history by going the furthest and the fastest in military history."

"I can’t wait until he comes home," Bausch said. "The waiting is the worst thing I have ever had to do in my whole life." There are times, she said when she just sits and contemplates where he is and what he might be doing. "We never even let him carry a squirt gun when he was little and now here he is … on the front lines."

Carol Deuel, owner of The Creator’s Hands Florist, has volunteered to make all of the bows for Bausch. In addition to the large tree bows, Bausch has also made more than 1,300 lapel pin bows and is giving them away at the Hilton Big M.

After being unable to find yellow ribbon locally, Bausch hopped on the internet and found some ribbon on e-Bay. "After I placed my initial order, the woman I bought the ribbon from on e-Bay sent me extra," she said. In addition to Bausch’s first order, she went on-line again and found a site called fundraising.com and applied to receive 1,000 feet of ribbon that has "Until The Troops Come Home" printed on it. While the site is geared toward not-for-profits, Bausch said they sent her ribbon when she completed her application. "In the application section where it asked for which organization I was from I just put, I’m a military mom," she said.

Bausch’s original intent was to decorate her yard but she then asked Hilton officials for permission to display ribbons throughout the village. Hilton’s Mayor, William Carter, said the board unanimously approved a resolution to allow the ribbons to be displayed throughout the village. "The board thought it was a good way of supporting the men who are serving," he said. "Since the original request, we have had other people putting the ribbons in front of their houses … the goodwill is spreading."

Carter said the ribbons are in the central business district and in the village’s gazebo. "It’s a nice show of community spirit," he said.

"I’m just so proud of my son," Bausch said with tears in her voice. "We miss him and just want him, and all of the other men and women, to come home safe and sound."