Ribbon Organizers Won’t Bow Out as They Regroup for New Assault

Plans to hang a troublesome yellow bow on the Coronado Bridge have been delayed for several days while a new strategy is sought to put the ornament in place, organizers said Thursday.

There were plans to try for a third time Friday to hang the gigantic ribbon--a tribute to forces returning from the Persian Gulf, but Lois Silva, who organized the project while working as director of personnel at Western Lumber Co., said further attempts will be postponed until Tuesday at the earliest.

Although the plans to hang the bow have been foiled by unruly winds, Silva said the community interest in the endeavor is growing.

“I am awed and amazed at the interest,” Silva said. “It’s just wonderful!”

Silva said she has received hundreds of calls offering suggestions from throughout San Diego County.

The latest group to become involved in the project includes union ironworkers, who said they would help construct a frame for the bow. “All I can say is thank God the troops were more successful than we have been, but we are going to keep trying,” Silva said.

“It’s got to go up,” Silva added.

Silva said the support by the community shows that people all over the county want the bow to be attached to the bridge.

Flag Masters’ Rob Crowe, son of Robert Crowe, the company’s owner as well as the bow’s designer and manufacturer, said his father was working on the ornament and was “going through a whole slew of stuff” in order to help make the installation proceed smoothly.

“I’m having a good time with it, but he’s sweating over it,” Crowe said.