| Colors send distinct messages. | | | | represent. |
| Subconsciously, we've been trained to respond | | | | |
| in a variety of ways to practically every | | | | RED: Aids Awareness |
| color of the rainbow. For instance, green is | | | | |
| almost always associated with "go" (green | | | | BLACK: Aids Remembrance or Mourning |
| lights), the coming of spring as well as | | | | |
| freshness and also trust. Orange, according | | | | PINK: Breast Cancer |
| to color psychologists, denotes energy and | | | | |
| enthusiasm. This is probably why the | | | | YELLOW: Military Support |
| champions of causes chose to use colored | | | | |
| ribbons when supporting their beliefs. | | | | LIGHT BLUE: Prostate Cancer |
| | | | |
| As far back as 1917, singer/songwriter George | | | | TEAL: Ovarian Cancer |
| Norton penned the song, "'Round Her Neck She | | | | |
| Wears A Yellow Ribbon." A revised version | | | | GOLD: Child Cancer |
| was later used in the movie "She Wore A | | | | |
| Yellow Ribbon." The words recount the tale | | | | GREY: Diabetes or Brain Cancer |
| of a young girl waiting for the return of her | | | | |
| love who was serving in the military. In | | | | GREEN: Leukemia or Organ & Tissue Donor |
| 1979, yellow ribbons saw resurgence as Penne | | | | |
| Laingen tied this symbol around her tree when | | | | LIGHT PURPLE: Lupus or Alzheimer's |
| her husband, US diplomat Bruce Laingen, was | | | | |
| held captive during the Iran hostage crisis. | | | | PURPLE: Disabled Children, Domestic |
| | | | Violence, Religious Tolerance |
| But yellow isn't the only symbol of hope. | | | | |
| What's the first thought that comes to mind | | | | DARK BLUE: Child Abuse, Crime Victim's |
| when you see a pink ribbon? Breast cancer. | | | | Rights, Colon Cancer |
| In 1992, at the hands of Self magazine editor | | | | |
| Alexandra Penney and cosmetic giant Estee | | | | WHITE: Gender Violence |
| Lauder, the ribbon symbol was adopted as the | | | | |
| icon for the National Breast Cancer Awareness | | | | ORANGE: Animal Protection |
| Month campaign. The color pink was chosen | | | | |
| and the new emblem was quickly adopted by the | | | | GREEN & BLUE: Mental Health Awareness |
| American public. | | | | |
| | | | RED, WHITE & BLUE: Patriotism |
| There are others as well... many others. Red | | | | |
| was chosen as the ribbon color for Aids | | | | JIGSAW PUZZLE: Autism |
| awareness because it represents passion. | | | | |
| Yellow was chosen for military support | | | | BURGUNDY: Brain Aneurysm, Hospice Care |
| because it is the official color of the U.S. | | | | |
| Calvary. | | | | LAVENDER: Cancer Awareness |
| | | | |
| Ribbons or Lapel Pins | | | | PERIWINKLE: Eating Disorders |
| | | | |
| While many people actually purchase and cut | | | | BROWN: Anti-Tobacco |
| pieces of ribbon to pin to their lapels, | | | | |
| others have opted for a more convenient | | | | LACE: Osteoporosis |
| method. While cloth ribbons wear out | | | | |
| quickly, purchasing custom ribbon lapel pins | | | | PINK & BLUE: Miscarriage, Infant Death |
| gives you a permanent piece of jewelry to | | | | |
| wear repeatedly. Whichever option you choose, | | | | Do you know someone who suffers from a |
| wearing awareness ribbons will show your | | | | disease or condition? Are you holding a |
| support for immensely worthwhile causes. | | | | rally or charity event to raise money for |
| | | | research? Would you like to show your |
| Internationally - in the United States, | | | | support of others? Schools, businesses, |
| Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and | | | | organizations and individuals are all joining |
| other countries - ribbons have swept our | | | | forces to show the world what they believe in |
| awareness... just as they were meant to do. | | | | by wearing ribbon lapel pins. Won't you join |
| Here's a comprehensive list of ribbon colors | | | | them? |
| and what the organizations/diseases | | | | |