Coronado Bridge Bow Shows Signs of Weather Battle

After weeks of withstanding high winds, the giant yellow bow attached to the Coronado Bridge to honor the men and women returning from the Persian Gulf War has begun to look tattered and worn.

The same people who worked arduously to hang the bow in early April are now working on ways to improve its condition.

Lois Silva, personnel director at Western Lumber Co., said she and others have come up with three possible solutions: keeping the existing bow and securing it to the bridge again; building a new bow to replace the tattered one; or attaching the bow to the pilings, so that it can be seen by the troops as the enter the bay, but making it difficult for those in the city to see the bow.

Silva said that she continues to receive letters and phone calls from people who would like to see the bow remain up until the last of the troops return to San Diego. Among those who have written or called are the families of the troops who have not returned yet and even a service man who said he was touched after seeing the bow. The man told Silva that the welcome he received was much different than the one his brother, a veteran of the Vietnam War, returned to.

“The support is still there for (the bow),” Silva said. “We really haven’t finished with the tribute.

“It seems to be desired. We just don’t want it up that way.”

She said that in its present form, the bow does not convey the message of gratitude and welcome home.

“We don’t want a tacky bow up there,” she said. “We want it to be as beautiful as the message it represents.”

“I’m just disappointed it’s looking tattered for the parade (today honoring the returning troops),” she said.

Apart from the raggedy state that the bow is in, Caltrans officials said they have received reports of the bow blowing over the side of the bridge’s railing, creating a potential safety hazard.

“The wind has been taking its toll on the bow and it’s been flapping around in the wind,” said Jim Larson, Caltrans spokesman.

Larson said Caltrans has helped out by pinning the bow back down and added that if another bow is to be attached to the bridge, organizers will have to present another plan that will be reviewed by Caltrans officials.

Robert Crowe, owner of Flag Masters and the bow’s designer and manufacturer, said the ornament has faired nicely considering recent wind conditions.

“Quite honestly it was up over a month and I think it did quite well,” Crowe said.

Crowe said that one of the bows tails, which is more than 100 feet long, has become a safety hazard since it broke loose and added that “it defeats the purpose if it doesn’t look good.”

Crowe said that he would like to see a new bow constructed and replace the existing one. He said that with the experience gathered during the three attempts to hang the bow the first time, hanging a second one should take less time and effort.

In the meantime, Crowe is working on another, smaller yellow bow. Measuring 70 feet across with 60-foot-long tails, the second bow will be hung over Broadway for today’s parade honoring the returing troops and the veteran’s of previous wars.

PARADE TODAY: B3