John F. Kennedy famously said, Ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country.` That is Carol Hotaling’s favorite quote and one she says she lives by.
`It’s very important to give back. You need to be doing something for someone, you can’t just take everything in and not give back,` said Hotaling, of Clifton Park. `That’s why I make yellow bows.`
Known as the `Yellow Ribbon Lady` for more than 20 years, Hotaling has made hundreds of thousands of yellow ribbons to honor and remember the troops`safely home, overseas or lost in action.
`I make yellow ribbons so people will remember our troops. I think people forget too fast,` said Hotaling, who is working with Congressman Scott Murphy to have April 9, the local Yellow Ribbon Day, officially on the national calendar.
Hotaling is in the process of making ribbons for Friday, June 11, when the Patriot Guard Riders will ride 150 motorcycles from Flynn Brothers Funeral Home in Schuylerville to the national cemetery, escorting unknown soldiers as part of the Missing in America Project, a national effort that identifies and inters unclaimed remains of veterans.
While Hotaling hasn’t dealt directly with a relative serving in the military, she said she’s made helping the troops her passion for a very basic reason.
`I’m very grateful to live in a free country. If it wasn’t for our troops we wouldn’t have the freedom we have, although we don’t have as much as we used to, but I mean as far as terrorists not being here and all that stuff,` said Hotaling. `I feel bad for the families because so many lives have been lost.`
Her empathy for military families began when she saw Monica Bell standing on the front porch of her home during Desert Storm. Bell had a son, home now, that served on the front lines and she had organized an effort to send packages overseas. Hotaling got involved and has continued ever since.
Amidst the business of making yellow bows, Hotaling is also planning a fundraiser for Friday, August 14, at Saratoga Elks Lodge. She is teaming up with Donny `Elvis` Romines, an Elvis impersonator, to gather items for care packages and money which will benefit Blue Star Mothers and troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hotaling suggests a donation of snack items and white crew or tube socks.
`A lot of people don’t realize, we take so much for granted in everyday life. Those soldiers wear socks three or five days at a time and throw them away because they don’t have somewhere to wash them,` said Hotaling, who has collected about 400 pairs and hopes to reach at least 1,000. `I’d ask people, ‘why don’t you wear socks for four or five days and don’t take them off or wash your feet’ to see what it’s like.`
Volunteering has always been a part of her life, said Hotaling, and she encourages others to do their part too. First, though, she suggests looking up its definition.
`I really think people who volunteer need to look up the word in the dictionary because it’s doing something without expecting anything back in return,` said Hotaling. `That’s always been my big pet peeve, people saying they’re volunteering and then say they deserve this or that. Do it because you want to and should.`
Those interested in donating socks can contact Hotaling at 885-8811.“