DOVER-FOXCROFT – They’re popping up all over the well-traveled roads in this shiretown and they are meant to send a clear message.

Displayed on telephone poles, trees, porch pillars, buildings and signs, the big yellow bows signify that the town supports its troops and wants them to return home safe.

The yellow ribbon long has been a symbol of loyalty, ever since Tony Orlando and Dawn crooned their hit, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree,” in the early 1970s. The song was penned when an inmate, who was released from prison after a three-year stint, had asked his wife to tie a yellow ribbon around an oak tree in their hometown if she was still interested in him. Arriving home by bus, the former inmate found a yellow ribbon draped on a tree.

Later, yellow ribbons were used to express the nation’s feelings for the 52 American hostages held in Iran in 1979.

Today, the ribbons still represent loyalty and support. And town officials want to be sure that when the men and women in the military return home, they will be met with “a hundred yellow ribbons ’round the old, the old oak tree.”

“We just want to get the word out to show our support [for the military] and let them know our thoughts are with them and we hope and pray for their safe return,” said Sheila Bragg, deputy town clerk.

The ribbons are the work of town employees who donated the funds to purchase the long rolls of material. For the past few days, the town crew, including Town Manager Owen Pratt and Police Chief Dennis Dyer, have worked at the town office cutting the material and fashioning it into bows. Then the employees travel the streets to tie the bows to telephone poles.

Bragg said Tim LeProvost of the public works department first suggested that the town do something to show its patriotism. The idea of decorating the town with yellow ribbons was widely embraced by town employees.

The employees already have made and displayed 100 of the bright yellow ribbons, but more are planned, according to Bragg. The group also has created a memory display in the town office that features the photographs of hometown men and women who are serving in the military.