Though city council members said they do not want to take a stance on the current war situation, the council unanimously agreed to begin the support campaign.

In addition to the ribbon displays on city property, city staff will attach a yellow ribbon to lapel pins featuring a miniature American flag, with the words "Sunnyvale supports our troops" inscribed across the pin.

The council agreed that the total cost of the campaign cannot exceed $1,500. The money will come from the fiscal uncertainties fund.

The yellow ribbon has gotten flack in other cities. The city of Burlingame recently came under fire when residents began to display yellow ribbons on city property. But the Burlingame City Council ruled that the yellow ribbons could stay up and claimed them as city property, similar to Christmas decorations that are displayed during the winter.

Pilger said Sunnyvale's situation is different from Burlingame's because residents aren't putting up ribbons on city property—the city is. "We don't anticipate a problem because the city is posting yellow ribbons on city property. We can do what we want with city property," Pilger said.

Vice Mayor Tim Risch said he doesn't want to encourage others to post materials on city property when they don't have that right. "We don't endorse private citizens displaying any types of support on city property," Risch said.

However, residents can post yellow ribbons on their own property.

"It's the right thing to do to support our troops, which are in harm's way. We want them to know that their local government is behind them," said Mayor Julia Miller.

Vice Mayor Tim Risch agrees. "It's important that we show support for the men and women who are risking their lives to support the democracy and freedom that we enjoy," Risch said.

"We've been very careful not to engage in foreign policy, but we support the people who are obligated to carry out that policy," said Risch.

John Pilger, communications officer for the city, said, "This is not support for the war or for political actions. This is support for the soldiers themselves."

Taking similar action, the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce recently held a flag-raising ceremony at the Chamber office on the morning of April 1 to acknowledge Sunnyvale residents serving in the military. The Chamber also distributed yellow ribbon pins to the community and presented a banner listing the names of Sunnyvale employees and residents who have been called to serve.

The yellow ribbon is symbolic of the troops coming home, said Suzi Blackman, president and CEO of the Chamber.

Similar to the Chamber's banner, the city plans to create a wall of honor in council chambers to display photos of Sunnyvale residents serving in the military.

The city has begun to accept photos, which cannot be returned. They can be emailed to honor@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us or dropped off at city hall marked "wall of honor." For information on submitting photos to display on the wall of honor, call 408.730.7535.

Kinkos, located at 598 E. El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, will allow residents to scan a photo for the wall of honor at no cost; if staff assistance is required, a special discounted rate will be charged for the service.