Yellow ribbons adorn a Shoreline home, after being placed by Syre Elementary School third-grade students from teacher Zoe Deliganis’ class.
The ribbons were hung by the students on March 10 at Deliganis’ home, the day before her fiance, Joey Facilla, returned home from Iraq.
“It was quite a surprise to me,” Deliganis said. “The parents of my students organized a yellow ribbon tribute to my fiance serving in Iraq for 14 months.”
Deliganis, 28, was not at home when the ribbons were hung, but was at her evening job, teaching at City University. When she returned home later that evening, she was met with the ribbons and welcome-back notes written to Facilla by students’ parents.
Jan Maxson, whose son is in Deliganis’ class, helped organize the event. She got the idea one afternoon when she walked past Deliganis’ home, which is near her own home, and noticed a lonely yellow ribbon on the fence.
“I thought we needed to do something,” Maxson said. “Something to tell her and him that we really care what happens.”
Deliganis and Facilla will be married in July, after rescheduling their wedding date twice. The two met when he was an Army Sergeant on active duty stationed at Fort Lewis and she was a student in Tacoma. Deliganis has since finished her teaching certification, a Ph.D. and her National Teaching Certification.
Facilla, who is from New York, will remain in Shoreline, after previously being stationed in North Carolina and Seattle. This was his last welcome home ceremony, Deliganis said.
“Seeing him was wonderful, this is it for him,” Deliganis said. “He is here for good.”
Deliganis, who attended Syre Elementary School and graduated from Shorewood High School, said it has been a learning experience for her students to discuss Facilla being stationed in Iraq.
“It has been great for the students to get in touch with world events on a personal basis,” Deliganis said.
She said parents frequently asked her about Facilla, and the PTA even supported his platoon.
“The next plan is to make a wreath of ribbons for their wedding,” Maxson said.
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