By Jim Keithley

Sentry staff

    Valorie Swiger has been a nervous wreck ever since
the war broke out. That’s because her oldest son is in the U.S. Army.

    Jason Swiger, 20, spent three months in southern
Iraq at the beginning of the war. He returned home in May for a 14-day
leave and just recently learned his unit will be heading back to the
war zone in September.

    Swiger’s mother, at her kitchen table, talked about her son's new assignment.

    “I’m more worried now that I was before,” she said.
Surrounded by pictures and letters from her son, Swiger said she got
the news in an upsetting phone call last week.

    “All he said was, ‘Momma we’re going back.’”

    Swiger’s heart went to her throat.

    “I said, ‘Why are they doing this’ and he said ‘Momma they’re getting killed every day over there.’”

    Swiger said she will continue to pray for her son’s safety.

    “I am more frightened for him now because the first
time they knew who the enemy was,” she said. “They can’t tell anymore.”

    Swiger’s television is tuned to the Fox News Channel.

    “That’s always on,” she said.

    Jason Swiger is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He is a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

    During the three months her son was positioned in
southern Iraq, Valorie Swiger’s ear was constantly tuned to the
television, listening for anything with the words “82nd Airborne.”

    The young soldier spent most of his time conducting
security details. During his trip home in May, he visited the Mary F.
March Elementary School and told the students about his mission.

    “We kept the main supply routes open,” he told the young kids. “We didn’t engage in any fighting.”

    Jason Swiger fielded dozens of questions from the youngsters.

    One little boy asked if he would like to go back Iraq.

    “I’ll do anything to protect our country and our
state so you kids can grow up and have a happy life,” Swiger said.

    That answer drew a round of applause among the
students and teachers who gathered to listen to Swiger talk about his
war experiences.

    Swiger could not have imagined that the boy’s question would become a reality, especially so soon.

    Meanwhile back at home, Valorie Swiger is listening
to the television and dreading the day her son returns to the war zone.
He told her they will be leaving sometime in September.

    “He said they’ll be gone at least six months,” she said.

    She may be worried, but Valorie Swiger is also very proud of her son.

    “He’s up for sergeant,” she said. “He’s received
commendations and got a merit award for three years of exemplary
service.”

    Jason Swiger is one of six children.

    “He’s my oldest boy.”

    Swiger talked about the difficult years her son had
in school. She said she was forever trying to get her son to do his
homework.

    “He was an educational castaway,” she said. Swiger
described her son as “intelligent and gifted,” but she said he didn’t
apply himself, until after graduation.

    “It’s remarkable what he’s become.”

    During a phone conversation from Fort Bragg, Swiger
told this reporter his division is busy preparing the equipment and
machinery that they will use during their mission. Swiger admits the
re-deployment came as a surprise.

    “It was kinda sudden,” he said.

    He said a re-deployment is not unusual.

    “I’ve heard of it before.”

    Swiger said his earlier visit to the war zone has prepared him for what might come.

    “We’ve already done this before, so I think we’re
better prepared,” he said. “And maybe it won’t be so hot over there
this time.”

    But he knows U.S. troops are getting killed every day. And the resistance to American troops is building.

    “We’ll have to keep our eyes open a lot more than last time,” he said.

    Swiger ended the phone interview by saying his mother need not worry.

    “I tell her she raised a strong son and I’m going to
do what I have to do, to come back to her,” he said. “I’ll be damned if
I’m going to die before my mother.”

    On the same day Swiger received word that her son
would be heading back to Iraq, the telephone rang with bad news about
the hundreds of yellow ribbons she and a friend hung all over South
Portland.

    Swiger said the city clerk informed her that those yellow ribbons were looking a little “tattered.”

    “Somebody sent an e-mail to us to say the ribbons
are looking dirty and tired, (and asked) what is the city going to do
about this,” said Susan Mooney, South Portland’s city clerk.

    Swiger said she offered to replace the ribbons that were weathered.

    Mooney also informed Swiger that the yellow ribbons were not allowed on any utility polls.

    “I didn’t know that, that’s my fault,” Swiger said.

    Mooney sent an e-mail to the seven city councilors regarding her conversation with Swiger.

    Councilor David Jacobs had also received a complaint
about the ribbons and asked that the ordinance regarding public
displays to be read, according to Mooney.

    The next day, Mooney called Swiger back with more bad news.

    “She said to me they all had to come down,” Swiger said.

    The military mom said the her phone rang five minutes later. It was Councilor Jacobs on the other end.

    “He asked if he could have five minutes of my time,” Swiger said. “And I was very ugly.”

    “I asked him how many people complained and he said,
‘one,’” Swiger said. “One out of 24,000 people, you’ve got to be
kidding.”

    City Attorney Mary Kahl informed the council that the display of ribbons is an “expression of a viewpoint.”

    Kahl said the ordinance reads as follows: “no person
can attach any sign, advertisement or other matter to a public building
or public property.”

    Kahl recommended that the council be consistent with its ordinances.

    “We have to be content neutral and permit equal access for any viewpoints in a public place,” she said.

    The following week Swiger, attended a council
meeting and blasted city leaders. She told the board that she had no
intention of removing her yellow ribbons. She demanded an amendment to
the ordinance that prohibits them.

    Councilor Jacobs said, “It’s unfortunate that what
was intended to be a positive message has caused such negativity.”

    Swiger said she’s not backing down.

    “At this point in time somebody should keep the home light burning,” she said. “The war is not over.”

    Swiger’s ribbons have been up since March. She admits some are weathered, tattered and faded.

    “Some of them are sun-bleached and they look sad and
I understand that.” She has replaced some ribbons in her Ferry Village
neighborhood.

    Ryan Wallingford is just as upset as Swiger over the
yellow ribbon issue. Wallingford, 24, is a South Portland firefighter
and employee of the department of public works. He caught up with
Swiger outside the Ferry Village firehouse. Wallingford said ordinance
or no ordinance, his yellow ribbon is staying put.

    “They can kiss my butt,” he said. “If they want me
to take it down, I’ll refuse. I have friends and family over there.”