Have you seen the blue ribbons around Birmingham? Here’s what they mean

If you’ve driven through Mountain Brook recently, you’ve probably noticed blue ribbons adorning mailboxes, trees and storefronts.

These simple yet powerful symbols are more than just decorations—they’re a heartfelt tribute to eight-year-old Sarah Marsh, a Mountain Brook native who tragically lost her life during catastrophic flooding in Texas earlier this month.

Remembering Sarah Marsh

Sarah was attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, when severe flooding overwhelmed the area on the morning of July 4. A devastating wall of water surged down the Guadalupe River, claiming the lives of nearly 30 campers and counselors, including Sarah.

A student at Cherokee Bend Elementary School, Sarah is remembered by her community as bright, joyful and full of love. Her favorite color was blue—a detail that has since become a unifying emblem for those mourning her loss and celebrating her life.

A community wrapped in blue

The outpouring of love from Mountain Brook and the surrounding areas has been shown. Families, neighbors and strangers alike have joined together in an unspoken chorus of solidarity by tying blue bows outside their homes and businesses.

In partnership with the community, Andy’s Creekside Nursery in Vestavia Hills is offering free blue mailbox bows to anyone who wants to honor Sarah’s memory. No purchase is required—just a willing heart and a place to display your ribbon.

Send us photos of your blue ribbons @bhamnow on Instagram and Facebook.