270 Yards of Red White and Blue Ribbon Support Nixon's Efforts
By GEORGE R. WILKENS Kansan Staff Writer
Mrs Barbara Lancaster, wife of Air Force ROTC commander Raymond Lancaster, invested $12 Wednesday so she could "do her own thing" for the moratorium.
"I got the brainstorm at noon," she said. Mrs. Lancaster, Lawrence graduate student, went downtown and bought 270 yards of red, white and blue ribbon, several packs of straight pins and some crepe paper.
She then set up a small stand at the Information Booth in front of Flint Hall. A sign on the front of the stand read, "I'm for peace too. I think our presidents have been trying to bring peace."
As students walked by, Mrs. Lancaster asked them if she could offer them one of the red, white and blue ribbons she made.
"Lots of people put the ribbon right under their peace symbols," she said.
Mrs. Lancaster, who was a White House correspondent for four years, said, "I wanted to raise one little voice in the wilderness to say I know the president is trying." She said that to wear one of her ribbons is to
acknowledge that Nixon has a tough job.
Mrs. Lancaster has three sons who attend KU. She said her one big claim to fame is that she and her children can communicate with one another.
"My children kid me about being an over 40 flower child," Mrs. Lancaster said.
Mrs. Lancaster began expressing her opinions on the moratorium and the day in general to the many students who stopped, asked question and picked up one of her ribbons.
"What I've seen so far is democracy in action, people expressing themselves," Mrs. Lancaster said.
"You know, this new generation is a breath of fresh air. It's been beautiful. I'm impressed with the spirit I've seen," she said.
A student walked by Mrs. Lancaster's small stand and she asked him, "May I offer you a ribbon?"
18 KANSAN Oct. 16 1969
The student looked at the ribbons on the table and asked, "Is this in support of the Vietnam War?"
"No." Mrs. Lancaster replied, "It's just saying he has a tough job."
"I've been treated like a queen today," Mrs. Lancaster said. "Some have disagreed, but they all have been most courteous.
"I'll go along with that," the student said, and pinned the red, white and blue ribbon on his collar.
"Today has convinced me that maybe the generation gap isn't as wide as it's been painted."
A student walked by, stopped and looked at her display of ribbons.
"Could I offer you one," she asked.
"Ha," he said, "You have to be kidding."
"You know, that was good natured," Mrs. Lancaster said and laughed. The student turned around as he walked off and smiled.
Mrs. Lancaster said her taking part in such activities was nothing new. Thirty years ago she marched with a group at the University of Texas.
"We marched against the Board of Regents, who were trying to fire the chancellor," she said.
A student with long hair and a beard walked by the stand. Mrs. Lancaster repeated the offer of a ribbon as she had done many times during the day.
The student looked at her, laughed and said, "I think you're a radical and I won't associate with you."