COEUR d'ALENE - Dusty Rhoads still remembers the disconnect during the long days serving in Libya in the early '60s.

Any word that folks were thinking of him, that they appreciated if he was ever coming home, could pluck up spirits sinking under the weight of wondering what the next day could bring.

"It felt pretty good to hear something from home," said Rhoads, a member of local veterans groups who still knows to the day how long he served in the Air Force.

So he lauds any efforts today supporting the survival and return of troops overseas.

Even those of closet-planning nature.

"The guys over there pretty much feel abandoned by our government," Rhoads said. "It's up to us here at home, especially the veterans and families of veterans, to show support."

Rhoads and other local vets are applauding the Kootenai County commissioners for a proclamation issued last week, calling for Red Shirt Fridays.

That's right. Red Shirt Fridays.

Inspired by a national crimson-wearing campaign to boost awareness of servicemen and women, the proclamation encourages county employees to don the bright attire every Friday until all U.S. troops, to the very last Marine and airman and sailor, return home.

"The proclamation is only symbolic," said Commissioner Dan Green, adding that he participated in the county's inaugural Red Friday last week. "But anything we can do to bring awareness to support our troops is a good thing."

Even symbolic gestures hit home with individuals patrolling and building and defending abroad, Rhoads said, adding that he recently emailed the proclamation to a local National Guard member deployed overseas.

"He was very pleased," said Rhoads, who already pulls out red attire each Friday. "He said he was going to let everyone in his platoon know, to cheer them up a little bit."

Granted, it's a modest gesture, simply wearing a shirt.

But every time the article is pulled off the hanger, every time it's spotted in the halls by other eyes, that's a mundane reminder of how long the wait for returning soldiers continues.

Better than nothing.

Better than letting events overseas just drift through public unconsciousness.

"It would be the least we could do," said Darryl Heisey, director of county Veterans Services, who proposed showing sartorial solidarity. "It just shows we're still supporting, still caring for those in harm's way."

The idea was prompted, he said, by the recent loss of two Marines from Kootenai County, Sgt. Nathan Beyers and Spc. Nick Newby, killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq during an attack on their convoy.

"That sends it home," he said. "The way I see it is, we're not hearing about the number of deaths, although there's deaths happening over there all the time."

As an active duty retiree from the Army, Heisey recalls the same gratitude as Rhoads when he received word or support, whether from parents or strangers.

"When they (troops) receive packages from home or realize, 'People are doing something special to think of us,' I know as a military member myself, retired in 2002, that's something that's very appreciated," he said.

The county employees' practice officially kicked off last week.

How long it continues is up to Congress, and well, the course of international affairs.

Heisey has his red attire ready, for as long as it takes. Even if it goes out of style.

"We may not agree with the political stance, or reasons why we're there," he acknowledged. "But when you have young women and men of our nation who are serving, you've got to support them."