Community rallies to support victims

Like most of the nation, Mountain Home reacted to Tuesday's unprecedented terrorist attack on the United States with shock, anger, and disbelief -- and a huge outpouring of patriotism and support for the victims.

The Mountain Home News was flooded with calls Tuesday and Wednesday from citizens asking where they could give blood, but no local facilities were made available by the Red Cross to accept those offers.

As it became clear that there would be more dead than wounded -- blood donations in the New York and Washington areas met the initial demand for plasma and whole blood quickly -- the focus turned to helping the Red Cross through donations. A special edition, the first put out by the Mountain Home News since World War II, was one example of the fundraising efforts. All advertising profits from this edition will be presented to the Red Cross of Idaho New York City National Disaster Fund.

Throughout the community, similar efforts to raise funds were being conducted.

The employees at TCBY/Moxie Java, for example, are donating all of their tips through the rest of this month to the Red Cross.

The senior class at Mountain Home High School donated $500 to the Red Cross.

Sears is accepting donations that can be made with a Searscredit cards, all major credit cards, cash or checks. Auto Works at 1150 American Legion is accepting donations and will match the first $200 donated.

Donation jars have been set up at Elmore Memorial and at a number of businesses throughout the community.

At Walmart, red, white and blue ribbons are being handed out "until we run out of ribbon," a store employee said, in exchange for donations of any amount that will go to the Red Cross. More than $400 was raised in the first day of the effort, alone.

Donations also can be made directly to the American Red Cross by calling 947-HELP (4357) or 1-800-853-2570.

Contributions to the American Red Cross may also be sent to 254 South Cole Road, Boise, ID 83709.

For more information about how you can help the Red Cross contact Dave Fotsch or Lenn Moorhead-Rosenberg at (208) 947-4357.

Throughout the week area churches held special memorial prayer services and almost all the churches were open Friday during the noon-hour time of remembrance urged by President Bush as part of the National Day of Mourning. This Sunday a number of special services are planned.

E-mail messages were being sent like a chain letter urging citizens around the country to light a candle and step outside of their homes Friday night at 7 p.m. to send the message that "We stand united. We will not tolerate terrorism."

But the show of support went beyond the efforts to assist and remember the victims. In a town know for its patriotism, the patriotic fervor was at an all-time high as citizens bought out every American flag on sale in the city within 48 hours of the attack, adding to the significant number of flags already held by private citizens, and throughout the community flags could be seen flying from doorsteps of private homes.

The city lowered its flag only a few hours after the attack and by the next day almost every flag in the city was at half staff. At the encouragement of local civic leaders, the city also placed scores of flags along the main thoroughfares of the city.

Lisa Carr at Home Lumber said they sold out of their flags within an hour.

At Walmart, a citizen offered co-manager Michelle Wiggins $500 for the large flag that hangs in the entrance to the store, and that store also sold out by the end of Tuesday. Kmart also was emptied by citizens of its American flags Tuesday. Kings and the Dollar Store sold out by Wednesday, and A to Z Lumber and D&B Supply had all their flags gone by Thursday.