Boy, 10, Hangs Blue Ribbons In Port Vue To Show Appreciation For Police

PORT VUE (KDKA) - Blue ribbons are popping up around Port Vue. The mayor there wanted to find out who was behind them and why.

The blue ribbons were tied to telephone poles, railings and trees. As it turns out, a 10-year-old boy wanted to anonymously show his appreciation for police, but his identity didn't stay a secret for long.

He reached as high up as his arms would allow.

"If they're down low no one will be able to see them," Alex Bryner said.

Only talking with his grandmother about it, the fourth grader used his birthday money to buy the ribbon and started the task on his own.

"He wanted to do something nice to thank the police officers," Pauline Bryner said. "Putting up the blue ribbons was a way we could say thank you."

Not necessarily being secret about it, but certainly not going public, he started walking around his neighborhood trying blue ribbons on almost anything he could reach.

Alex says when he grows up he wants to be a police officer.

"I just wanted to appreciate the cops for what they do," Alex said. "They just work so hard to keep the community safe."

People in the area started to notice, sharing pictures of the simple blue ribbons, still wondering who was behind it.

"It got the attention of the Port Vue citizens and everyone was responding, wow, who's doing this?" Mayor Brien Hranics said.

Then, Alex's sibling and cousins began helping him, tying up more ribbons daily. Others then joined in.

If Alex's hope was to inspire others, he got his wish. Someone anonymously hung dozens of blue ribbons along the 15th Street Bridge.

Mayor Hranics says Alex may not have realized what he did by bringing an entire community together with just a single act.

One neighbor says half of Port Vue's streets are now covered in blue ribbons.

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