Do you “Support Our Troops”? Do I?

As I drive around I see these magnetic yellow ribbons on the trunks of cars proclaiming “Support Our Troops” (OK, some of the ribbons are red-white-blue).

During the Vietnam era occasionally someone would tie a yellow ribbon around a tree - it usually meant that a soldier or a soldier’s parents lived in that home, and they wanted him/her to return safely.  Sometimes adjacent neighbors, or maybe the whole street, would tie ribbons in support of the soldier and the soldier’s family.  Very personal.  (Sort of like the Star Flags displayed during WWI & WWII).

A few years ago I started seeing these magnetic ribbons on the backs of cars, and naively thought these were families of soldiers.  Also naively I thought that the exhibiters of these ribbons might have done something (donation perhaps?) for the troops.  Also naively I assumed that whoever manufactured the magnetic ribbons must be giving the proceeds to the troops.

 Apparently I was wrong. 

• Look online for "Support Our Troops” ribbons and you’ll find that there are indeed a few organizations that give the proceeds of their ribbon sales to support the troops – but you will be hard pressed to find those orgs amongst the many suppliers of these ribbons that just plain sell them and keep the money.
• Then I started asking people with ribbons on their cars if they had a family member in the military.  Now I’m sure some of these people must, but I couldn’t find anyone.  (My point is – most don’t).
• OK – so I was afraid to ask people what exactly they did to entitle them to display such a ribbon, because by that time I had realized that you could buy these ribbons in any Walgreens, supermarket, etc.

So let me put the question to you  -  what exactly do these ribbons on cars mean?  Is there a belief that by riding around with a ribbon on your trunk you are somehow “Supporting Our Troops”?  Someone please enlighten me.