El Cajon Woman Puts Up Ribbons To Welcome Troops Home

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POSTED: 3:06 pm PST January 1, 2012

UPDATED: 5:22 pm PST January 1, 2012

EL CAJON, Calif. -- An El Cajon woman is marking the end of the Iraq War with a unique tribute to the troops and their families. Sunshine Horton has tied yellow ribbons to trees in El Cajon for the past nine years. She started putting the ribbons up in 2003 when her husband was deployed to Iraq."While he was gone, I never felt so alone and empty," she said.Those feelings became Horton's call to action."Anybody that would see the yellow ribbon would know that we're thinking of them and praying for the troops to come home," said Horton. "That way, they wouldn't feel [as] alone as I did."The ribbons have been a huge show of support for troops and their families. But now that the war in Iraq is over, Horton has a new mission."I said, 'When the war is over, I'm going to do red, white and blue to welcome them and to be happy that they're home,'" she said.On Saturday, Horton replaced the yellow ribbons with ribbons of red, white and blue as a welcome home for the troops from Iraq.Some who have returned from Iraq will head to Afghanistan in six months. Horton said she will never forget the 4,400 troops who came home in a coffin."That is what makes me sad," she said. "They're so young and they don't get to come home to hug their relatives."Though the ribbons signify a homecoming, Horton said she wants people to remember those who are still serving in Afghanistan.Horton said she is also fighting a war against people drinking and driving."Today, I'm fighting an endless war? the war of drunk drivers," she said. "Today is a day we have big parties everywhere."She said the red, white and blue ribbons ? which have replaced the yellow ones ? should also serve as another reminder for people."America is a country that is a step below heaven," said Horton.

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