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| I worked as a career volunteer/paid-on-call firefighter and EMT in Mid-town Manhattan until 2002 and knew some of the civilians and FDNY that were killed at the WTC. | | | | I have a friend that fought in Vietnam and came home. I remembered that there used to be bracelets to wear for POWs. In honor of my friend, Michael Tank, the Vietnam vet, I decided to get one to remember that not everyone came home. | | | | My original POW/MIA bracelet was purchased in or around 1972 when I was in high school and was also for Captain Dean P. St Pierre. Like many folks, I actively protested the Vietnam War, but I also fiercely supported our military men and women and continue to do so today. | | |
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NOVI,
MI
The
idea of creating Memorial Bracelets came to Rob while he was watching the news
immediately following the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001.
“Seeing people desperately looking for lost loved ones reminded me of the
Vietnam War era when American’s were looking for soldiers MIA (Missing In
Action),” said Rob Tacy, President of Memorial Bracelets. “We were interested
in creating a way for people to remember those lost on 9-11 and helping the
families of the victims.” Tacy added. POW Bracelets were powerful symbols that
reminded people of those being held captive or missing. Rob thought that
Memorial Bracelets might do the same for those lost on 9/11 that POW/MIA
Bracelets did for soldiers held captive or missing during the Vietnam War.
The
concept of a bracelet to remember a victim of terrorism had not yet been
invented, and he thought of many names before deciding on calling it a Memorial
Bracelet. Having been laid off when the Internet bubble burst, Rob worked
around-the-clock with a web-site developer friend, Steve, who was also
unemployed. They launched the
Memorial Bracelets website located at www.MemorialBracelets.com
on October 23, 2001. John Roy, a New Yorker who lost his brother Sgt. Timothy
Roy in the World Trade Center was one of the first to order a bracelet.
"By wearing the bracelet, people will be showing hope that my brother's
body or something from him will be found so we can have some closure,"
said Roy. The money initially raised from selling bracelets was donated to the
Twin Towers Orphans Fund to support children who lost one or both parents. By
February 22, 2002, $5,000 was donated to this charity.
Memorial
Bracelets only offered bracelets for those that died on September 11th
until the Bali bombing occurred on October 12, 2002. They added the names of
victims of terrorism and subsequently added the names of American’s lost in
terrorist attacks prior by request, and after September 11th as they
occurred. Also by request, they added the names of Vietnam POWs, MIAs, KIAs and
Returnees so people could keep those still unaccounted for in their hearts and
prayers.
When
casualties began to occur after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF),
they were asked by family members of the fallen to add the names of the
military members lost to the website so people could also remember the brave
men and women who died fighting to keep America safe from terrorism. They began
adding the names of the casualties for OEF and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
starting in March of 2002 and expanded the mission of the site to Remembering
the Victims and Heroes of Terrorism.
To
reflect their commitment to military families, they also expanded the charities
they support to help the families of those lost or wounded while fighting. They
donate $2.00 of every product purchased on the site, no matter if it’s a
bracelet or a dog tag or if it’s engraved for medical ID reasons or custom
engraved for a special cause.
Because they have sold over 165,000 bracelets and dog tags over the past
eight and a half years, they have been able to donate over $83,000 to charities
that support the families that have lost a hero or victim to terrorism. “Our goal is to donate over $100,000 to
charity by September 11th, 2011,” said Rob.
Rob started offering engraved jewelry in 2001 and continue
today for the simple reason of giving the wearer something that enables them to
remember their lost loved one, and to share their story with others who see the
bracelet or dog tag. “We enjoy
hearing from those that wear the bracelets and dog tags we engrave for them.
Knowing that what we offer gives so many people a sense of peace and is
cherished by them as a keepsake, makes us proud to be able to continue to offer
this service”, said Rob. You can read hundreds of stories about why Americans
all over this great land wear Memorial Bracelets to honor the memory of a
fallen soldier or lost loved one, at their blog located at www.whywear.com.
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