Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Surrounded by area religious leaders, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the launch of her “Ribbons of Hope” campaign during a ceremony Tuesday morning on the lawn of the Alabama State Capitol.

The campaign, which will last for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic which is currently raging in Alabama, encourages Alabamians to tie a ribbon around a front yard tree, pole or garden fixture as a way to remind people to pray for medical personnel, first responders and one another.

These ribbons will be called “Ribbons of Hope” and are intended to symbolize “faith, hope, love and prayer,” according to a press release from Ivey’s office – the governor hopes that such “simple gestures will create unity among us and become a beacon of encouragement for everyone who sees them.”

During Tuesday’s ceremony at the capitol, Ivey and a bevy of local religious leaders, including First Baptist Church of Montgomery Pastor Jay Wolf, 89.1 FM Faith Radio Director of Ministry Relations Billy Irvin, Alabama Baptist Convention Hispanic Ministries Coordinator Anel Robiyana and others, officially tied the first “Ribbon of Hope” to a tree on the capitol grounds.

“As an effort to remind the people of Alabama we are all in this together, I ask that each household tie a ribbon in their front yard to remember our medical personnel, first responders and for the health and protection of our family and friends,” Ivey said. “Let’s use whatever ribbon we already have from a past celebration and may we see a beautiful array of color line our neighborhood streets. These ribbons will serve as a reminder to the people of our state that we are lifting each other in prayer and that, just like after the great flood in Genesis, we are mindful of the hope and promise of God during this pandemic.”