By GARY HENDERSON
Staff Writer

UNION, S.C. (10/28/94) -- Yellow ribbons were tied to trees, telephone poles and doors and worn in lapels Thursday, as the people of Union County remembered two little boys.

"I've never experienced anything like this. I feel like they are my own," said Pat Gibson, as she placed a big yellow ribbon on her front door. "I'm keeping this up until the children come home."

Three-year-old Michael Smith and his brother, 14-month-old Alexander, have not been seen since about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday. Their mother, Susan Smith, 23, said they were abducted by a man that jumped into her car at a traffic light in Monarch Mills.

"All I can do now is trust in the Lord and my family," said Mrs. Smith from her parents' home Thursday morning. "I keep trying not to lose hope, but the more time passes, I get scared."

The mother of the two missing boys paused to gain her composure.

"If they are lying somewhere dead, I want them home," Mrs. Smith said. "Oh, God. I can't bear to think of that."

Mrs. Smith said when the man drove off with her children, she fell to the ground in despair.

"I started running down the middle of the road screaming, `Somebody's got my children."'

Mrs. Smith said when she got to a nearby house, the people brought her inside and called the police.

"The woman kept telling me, `Everything will be okay,"' Mrs. Smith said. "She put her arms around me and held me."

While Mrs. Smith and her husband, David, 24, talked about the disappearance of their children, the ribbons continued to go up on Main Street.

"I volunteered for this," said Daniel Glenn, a Union High School senior. "I think it's bad to do something like that. It has been a shock for everybody here."

As Glenn spoke, he tied a yellow ribbon on a holly tree covered with red berries. It was one of 32 ribbons the young man placed on trees in downtown Union Thursday morning.

"I hope this is sending a message, letting everybody know how serious a problem it is," Glenn said. "And I hope I'm doing my part."

While some people hung yellow ribbons, others were thinking about the financial needs the Smith family will face.

Twenty-one-year-old Karen Harger and Audrey Roberts, 26, collected money to help the Smiths with expenses.

"I feel sorry for them," Roberts said. "Their bills won't stop, and they can't work right now."

Support for the Smiths in Union was expressed in other ways too. A sign on North Main Street read: "To David, Susan, Alexander, and Michael Smith -- You are in our prayers."

The Smiths said the concern shown by other people has helped give them hope for the future.

"I have a lot of hope," Mrs. Smith said. "That's all I have. I can't imagine life without my children."

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