MUSCATINE, Iowa - "Signs" of support for military service people and their families can be found throughout Muscatine and the people placing them ask others to join them in the campaign of encouragement.

The Happy Joe's marquee on Grandview Ave. invites everyone to "Support our Troops," while O'Reily Auto Parts on Park Ave., offers, "God Bless Our Troops."

"If you agree or disagree with the president, the service people are our Americans," says Happy Joe's manager Dave Logel, 37. "They're still our troops and they're still our family. Once the president made the decision for or against the war you need to stand behind the people who are out there. We're all in this together."

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"It's not about partisan politics anymore," said Happy Joe's employee Sean Boynton, 26. "It's about our soldiers returning safely."

Boynton said he breaks the war down in percentages.

"It's about 60 percent protecting our country, 30 percent economic and 10 percent humanitarian as far as motivation," Boynton said.

Larry Kirkland, manager of O'Reily Auto Parts on Park Avenue in Muscatine said he hopes to see the support for soldiers continue throughout the Iran conflict. Kirkland, 55, said the way American troops were treated after the Vietnam War still disturbs him.

"That was horrendous," Kirkland said. "I'm hoping our country learned a lesson."

Kirkland said the war in Iraq was waged to end terrorism.

"During the Vietnam War we weren't sure why we were going there," Kirkland said. "This time we know we have to do something about terrorism."

The sign in front of Dr. William C. Gremmels chiropractic office says America United We Stand.

Inside his office, military family members can receive free chiropractic care until their military person comes home from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I figured that would take some of the pressure off," Gremmels said. "They won't have that bill to pay."

Gremmels said he wants the service people to know their families will be taken care of while they're away.

"They're putting their lives on the line," said Gremmels, 62. "It's the least we can do."

At Flowers on the Avenue, a Ninth Street shop, the sign reads "Support Our Troops, yellow bows, $5."

Co-owners Julie Schildt and Karen Garret said they wanted to offer the display sized, specially made yellow and red, white and blue ribbons to show their support for the troops.

Schildt said she's sold 200 bows since they became available Thursday.

"The majority of them are yellow," Schildt said.

Cynthia Beaudette can be reached at 563-263-2331 (ext. 320) or e-mail at cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com