Jacobsen’s Return : Supporters Ready for a Homecoming

A party is brewing in Huntington Beach. No one is sure when and where the bash will be, but signs of celebration for the return of hostage David P. Jacobsen began appearing Friday.

Yellow ribbons welcoming Jacobsen home after his 17-month ordeal in captivity in Lebanon dot trees and posts on Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach and adorn wheelchairs at a Westminster convalescent home where residents have prayed daily for the American hostages’ release.

Marquees anticipate Jacobsen’s arrival with “Welcome Back” messages. At the Huntington Beach apartment of Eric Jacobsen, David’s elder son, frayed yellow ribbons were replaced by fresh ones. A friend arrived Friday afternoon with balloons and flowers.

“Everybody is trying to figure out when he’s coming,” said Sally Jacobsen, David’s former wife, who was at the apartment.

Carla Forbes, one of Jacobsen’s two sisters, who lives in Altadena, said: “We have plans for a party, but you can’t make too many plans when you don’t know that the guest of honor will be there. We’re still going to do something, but we have to wait and see what happens.”

Although Eric Jacobsen, who is with his father in Washington, said the family plans to return home Sunday, the news had not yet reached Huntington Beach Friday afternoon, where people who never knew the Jacobsens were wondering when they should prepare for his welcome.

Help Offered

Chery Rivera, 35, Susan Frederick, 28, Sunnie White, 25, and Gina Knoeller, 25, are four friends who decided that they wanted to do something to show their support for Jacobsen and his family.

They called the City of Huntington Beach, where officials told them this week that a new yellow flag might be hoisted, replacing the one that has been flying for Jacobsen since last year, Frederick said. Councilwoman Ruth Finley said later that the city plans a ceremony but that the details are not yet final.

The city’s response, Frederick said, “wasn’t enough for us, and that’s why we got involved.” That’s also when they heard about the Hy-Lond Convalescent Hospital in Westminster, which had “adopted” the hostages.

On Friday, the four women, with five children tagging along, arrived at the convalescent home to thank the elderly residents for their efforts and to pledge their support.

“We just heard about what’s going on over here and we think it’s great. These people are captive themselves,” Knoeller said. “And they’re putting everything into it.”

The women said they have been calling merchants to donate food, flowers and other gifts for a celebration of Jacobsen’s return. They also have called local businesses and asked them to display messages on marquees.

The convalescent home, for its part, is putting on a party Friday on the grounds of the Westminster Civic Center, and the community is invited, said Nancy Fontaine, activities director of the home. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley--at the request of one of Jacobsen’s sisters--is expected to attend, said his press secretary, John Stodder.

“I went to school with David Jacobsen’s daughter (Diane Duggan),” White said. “She’s a nice person. This is the least we can do to show we sympathize with them.”

David Jacobsen asked the press to refrain from writing about any possible deals to free five hostages still in Lebanon. Part I, Page 1.