Blue ribbon

This article is about the symbol. For other uses, see Blue ribbon (disambiguation).

The blue ribbon is a symbol of something of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order of knights. The spelling blue riband is still encountered in most English-speaking countries, but in the United States, the term was altered to blue ribbon, and ribbons of this color came to be awarded for first place in certain athletic or other competitive endeavours (such as county and state fairs). It also may be applied to distinguished members of a group or commission who have convened to address a situation or problem; the usual usage is "blue ribbon commission" or "blue-ribbon panel".

The French for the term is Cordon Bleu, which is also used in English-speaking countries.

Fair competitions

A blue ribbon won at a convention.

In some fair competitions in the U.S., particularly 4-H and FFA livestock and horticultural events, blue ribbons may be awarded to any project or exhibit which meets or exceeds all of a competition's judging criteria. In Canada blue ribbons are awarded to second place, with red ribbons awarded to first.

The project may not necessarily be the first place finisher, however. In such cases, a purple ribbon may given to the champion and second-place (or reserve) champion.

Awards are generally given according to the following scale

Polity	Place	ribbon
USA	First place	blue ribbon
	Second place	red ribbon
	Third place	yellow ribbon
	Fourth place	white ribbon
	Fifth place	pink ribbon
	Sixth place	green ribbon
	Seventh place	purple ribbon
	Eighth place	brown ribbon
Canada	First place	red ribbon
	Second place	blue ribbon
	Third place	white ribbon
	Fourth place	yellow ribbon
	Fifth place	green ribbon
	Sixth place	pink ribbon
	Seventh place	purple ribbon
	Eighth place	brown ribbon

Usage as an awareness or activism ribbon

Blue ribbons have been used as awareness ribbons for numerous different causes. Notable examples:

• Against child abuse. The National Exchange Club’s national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse, was adopted in 1979 with the encouragement of National President Dr. Edward North, Jr., a physician from Jackson, Mississippi, who observed increased incidences of abuse through his medical practice. The blue ribbon became the emblem of the project following the example of Bonnie Finney. The club sponsors numerous Blue Ribbon Campaigns and Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. In the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, the Penn State Nittany Lions football team announced that they will wear a blue ribbon to support child abuse victims.
• The "Blue Ribbon Online Free Speech Campaign" is an online campaign by the EFF endorsing the protection of free speech on the Internet.
• The blue ribbon is internationally used to spread awareness of chronic fatigue syndrome
• The blue ribbon, shaped like the letter "P", is used within the United States as a symbol for Parkinson's disease.
• Anti-smoke campaigns. In Canada, it is the symbol of an anti-tobacco, anti-second hand smoke campaign. It has the same meaning in Japan. Students of the Hugh Boyd Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia started the "Blue Ribbon Campaign" in 1999. Each year it has grown and now has taken on a national scope. Singapore is the first country in the region to adopt The Blue Ribbon initiative started by the World Health Organisation Western Pacific Region, on a nationwide scale with 10 markets and food centres.
• In the U.S., a light blue ribbon is the symbol of prostate cancer awareness, a royal blue ribbon is the symbol of mesothelioma awareness, and a dark blue ribbon is the symbol of colorectal cancer (colon cancer and rectal cancer) awareness. Blue is also used in the multi-colored ribbons symbolizing awareness of bladder cancer and thyroid cancer.
• Against child beating. In the U.S.A., a Blue Ribbon Campaign against child abuse originated in the spring of 1989 when Bonnie Finney of Virginia tied a blue ribbon to her car antenna, as tribute to her three year old grandson, Michael Bubba Dickinson, who died at the hands of his abusive mother, Belinda Finney Dickinson and her boyfriend. Both were convicted, however, she on the lesser charge relate to child-neglect and abuse, and he on the full murder charge. The blue color of the ribbon symbolizes the color of bruises.
• In the UK, a blue ribbon can be the symbol of testicular cancer awareness.
• In Spain, a blue ribbon (lazo azul) was used since 1993 by those opposing the terrorism of ETA.
• In Ukraine, a blue ribbon represents solidarity with President Viktor Yanukovych, support for the "Party of Regions" (Ukrainian: Партія регіонів) and protest against what is perceived as the seizure of power by Viktor Yushchenko during the Orange Revolution in December 2004.^{[citation needed]}
• The blue ribbon was used in the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon in 2005, the movement to end perceived Syrian hegemony over Lebanese politics.^{[citation needed]}
• In regard to Australian Politics the term "blue ribbon" refers to an electorate, state, or area that is considered safe for the conservative Liberal Party. This term can also be applied to the Conservative Party which shares the same ideology and traditional colour of the Australian Liberal Party.^{[citation needed]}
• In Israel, blue ribbons indicate support for the Israel unilateral disengagement plan of 2004, as opposed to orange ribbons, which indicate opposition. It is intended to invoke the flag of Israel.^{[citation needed]}
• In Japan, a blue ribbon is a symbol against abduction by North Korea. It symbolizes the Sea of Japan, between Japan and Korea.
• In the Philippines, there is a Blue Ribbon Committee in the Philippine Senate, a committee that serves as an oversight to government accountability and investigations against corrupt officials.
• In spring 2007, thousands of World bank employees started wearing blue ribbons as a symbol of support for the cause of good governance. This was seen as a silent protest against World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, who had to step down several weeks later due to charges of nepotism.
• In the United States, the blue ribbon (and awareness bracelet from CCFA) are used to signify Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and associated gastrointestinal diseases.^{[citation needed]}
• In the United States of America, a blue ribbon is a symbol for remembrance of fallen police officers. The ribbons are displayed by the survivors of fallen police officers and are very symbolic of the COPS organization, Concerns Of Police Survivors.^{[citation needed]} In Australia, a blue and white checkered ribbon is commonly used.
• In Sweden there is a temperance organization with the name "Blå bandet" (The Blue Ribbon).
• In the US town of Enterprise, AL on March 1st, 2007 a tornado destroyed Enterprise High School and part of the city killing 8 students and 1 Enterprise resident. A Blue ribbon with a White ribbon is used (the schools colors) to commemorate the loss of life that day. Other ribbons are blue with white lettering, often stating "We Will Never Forget 3-1-07".^{[citation needed]}
• In the city of Belleville, Ontario, the blue ribbon is used in the Violence Awareness and Random Acts of Kindness campaign.
• A blue ribbon is also the ribbon used for awareness for the disease of neurofibromatosis.
• A blue ribbon is used for awareness of bullying.
• Blue ribbons were adopted as a symbol of unity and remembrance in Oklahoma City after the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Murrah Federal Building.

Other uses

• Blue ribbons were used by emergency services after the Black Saturday bushfires in Australia to mark properties and areas with possible human remains or a confirmed fatality occurred. The blue ribbons were attached to stakes outside the particular property or area.

Companies and products

• The Italian Peroni Brewery has a beer "Nastro Azzurro" referring to the Blue Riband held by the Italian SS Rex from 1933 to 1935.
• Beginning in the 1940s, Warner Bros., in a cost-conserving effort, began to reissue its backlog of color cartoons under a new program which they called Merrie Melodies "Blue Ribbon" reissues. For the reissue, the original front-and-end title sequences were altered.
• Blue Ribbon is a chain of 8 upscale restaurants, a recording studio and amateur cycling team in New York City.
• Blue Ribbon Barbecue is a chain of 2 restaurants and a catering service in the Boston suburbs.
• Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, which got its name from originally having a blue ribbon tied around the neck of the bottle (between 1882 and 1916).
• In Zimbabwe, "blue ribbon" refers to "Blue Ribbon Mills", the largest wheat refiner in the country.
• The Swedish company "Blå band" (Blue ribbon) manufactures dried and ready-cooked sauces, soups and outdoor meals.
• Blue Ribbon is a brand of ice cream sold in Australia and owned by Unilever.
• Blue Ribbon (Australia) Pty Ltd is an Australian Building company based in Melbourne [[File:Blue Ribbon (Australia) Pty Ltd]]
• Blue Ribbon ( India ) MO 33

See also

• Blue Ribbon Schools Program
• Blue Ribbon Awards
• Medals of Honor (Japan)
• Blue Riband (disambiguation) for other uses of the term Blue Riband