Ribbon issue ties condo owners in knots

PEMBROKE, Mass., July 24 (UPI) -- Real estate's mantra about location, location, location seems to apply even when it comes to yellow ribbon displays in a condominium community in Massachusetts.

Showing support for U.S. troops on a condo owner's door is fine because it is private property, The Boston Globe reported Thursday. Tying one a few feet away on a porch post is a no-no, punishable by a $25 fine because it's public property.

It's a question of setting, not sentiment, says Mary Doller, secretary for the Barker Square condominiums community's board of trustees in Pembroke, Mass.

"We support and encourage the yellow ribbons as a board," Doller said of the board's 3-1 vote with one absent. "Our only concern is the placement."

Ten condo owners broke ranks and displayed the ribbons at the request of a military support group that explained parents of Iraq war service members had asked that the ribbons remain until their children return home, the Globe said.

Condo resident Barbara Burke is keeping her ribbon on the post.

"I think it's ridiculous," she said told the Globe of the ruling. "It's not unattractive."