Published Wednesday, August 28, 2002
greetings
By Erin Remai
There's a card for every occasion -- even Sept. 11.
The tragic day in our nation's history, when terrorists crashed commercial jetliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, has been dubbed "Patriot Day," and many greeting card lines have just the card available to commemorate it.
Patriot Day cards arrived about six weeks ago at Matthew's Hallmark Shop at the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage. Assistant Manager Pat Marx said sales of the cards have been "pretty good."
"They're a lot more aimed at Veterans Day than Patriot Day," she said, adding they're also appropriate for anyone who has a family member or a friend in the armed services.
Some of the Patriot Day cards displayed on the Hallmark Web site feature American flags, the Statue of Liberty, an eagle and inspirational words about patriotism and heroes. One card, which has a picture of a sunset on the front, is geared toward military personnel and thanks service men and women for their service.
American Greetings also produces a line of patriotic cards, which have been available since last Sept. 11, said Gail Sommers, district manager for American Greetings at Gorant's Cards Plus at Prime Outlets at Grove City in Springfield Township.
"They go in spurts," she said of the cards' sales. "For Veterans Day we sold quite a few. For Memorial Day we sold quite a few."
Ms. Sommers said American Greetings also has cards appropriate for anyone joining the service.
She said she hasn't yet seen an increase in sales related to Sept. 11, but "I'm sure we will."
The cards are available year-round, but on patriotic holidays they are moved to a fixture at the front of the store and decorated with red, white and blue balloons, Ms. Sommers said, adding the display will be moved to the front of the store soon for Sept. 11.
Animated electronic greeting cards in rembrance of Sept. 11 are available on the American Greetings Web site. One shows a montage of Sept. 11-related scenes and another features people passing a unity candle. Both are set to inspirational music.
The idea of a special observance to recognize Sept. 11 began last Oct. 25, when U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella of New York introduced a bill in the House to designate Sept. 11 as "United We Stand Remembrance Day."
The final bill passed by the House and the Senate named the day Patriot Day, and President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on Dec. 18, according to the Hallmark Web site.
The bill calls for the president to issue a proclamation each year, asking state and local governments to honor the day with appropriate activities and ceremonies, to lower the American flag to half-staff and to observe a moment of silence in memory of those who died in the attacks.