T-shirts supporting overseas troops make statements
Lauren Doxsey
/ Features Editor
Differing from the traditional yellow ribbon bumper stickers
that appear on cars nowadays in order to showcase support for
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, T-shirts are beginning to
make a big statement.
TakePride, a company hoping to rally America’s youth
into supporting troops overseas, has created a line of
T-shirts with specific messages of encouragement.
“This project offers Americans a new, more stylish and
meaningful way to support their fellow Americans serving in
Iraq or Afghanistan,” said Kevin Reilly, a member of
the TakePride team.
These T-shirts also hold special meanings, as each design
was inspired by a selected number of service members who have
served or are currently serving in Iraq or
Afghanistan.
According to an article that appeared in the Washington
Post, TakePride currently offers nine different styles of
shirts that have been created by soldiers who have served or
are still serving for the United States overseas.
“By focusing on individuals, we hope to humanize the
troops and give people a reference point for better
understanding what the larger group is going through,”
said Reilly.
This project was founded by TakePride members Patrick Gray
and John Betz, who started the business during the summer as
they believed that American citizens were losing sight of
their troops fighting the war, according to the Washington
Post.
Twenty percent of the profits made are being contributed to
charities that help combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first donation has already been made to Disabled American
Veterans.
“The shirts are in no way politically partisan,”
said Reilly. “Our intent was to establish something
mainstream enough to elicit support on all sides and further
the stereotype that supporting the troops can only be a
conservative role.”
According to the Washington Post, one of the T-shirt designs
is entitled “Iraq Imagined.” This specific
T-shirt illustrates a military helicopter flying overhead a
Humvee driving along a path of palm trees. This drawing was
designed by a former Marine whose job was to call in
information regarding airstrikes against insurgents.
Shirts cost between $20 and $22. For more purchasing
information on these shirts, visit http://www.takepride.com.
which features certain designs and logos.
Contact Lauren Doxsey at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247. | 
