How Natalee Holloway's community has remembered her over the years

SENTENCE BACK HERE IN THE US. WELL, AFTER NATALEE DISAPPEARED IN 2005, THE MOUNTAIN BROOK COMMUNITY AND THE GREATER BIRMINGHAM AREA REALLY RALLIED AROUND THE FAMILY AND THEY SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT THROUGH YELLOW RIBBONS. I’M GLADYS BATTISTA JOINS US NOW LIVE IN. GLADYS, I KNOW THAT THAT WE’VE SEEN THAT ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY. YEAH, LISA, EMPLOYEES HERE AT SMITH VARIETY TELL ME THAT THEY REMEMBER MAKING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE YELLOW BOWLS SO THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY COULD PUT THEM ON THEIR MAILBOXES TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR NATALEE HOLLOWAY FAMILY AS THEY DEALT WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE. NOW, TODAY, WHEN WE WALKED IN, EMPLOYEES WERE MAKING BOWLS. BUT THEY TELL ME THE TRADITION HERE STARTED WITH NATALEE HOLLOWAY DISAPPEARANCE. HOLLOWAY LIVED IN MOUNTAIN BROOK AND HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL HERE WHEN SHE VANISHED ON HER CLASS TRIP IN ARUBA, THE OWNER OF SMITH’S BRAD SIMPSON SAYS THE YELLOW BOATS THEY STARTED AS A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO RALLY AROUND HER FAMILY. AND THROUGH THE TRAGEDY, SHE BROUGHT THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. IT BEGAN A LEGACY THROUGH THE BOWS THAT STILL LIVES ON TODAY. WE’VE DONE QUITE A FEW KIND OF BOW FUNDRAISERS AND BOW THINGS SINCE THEN, BUT THAT’S PROBABLY THE LARGEST THAT WE’VE EVER DONE IN THE HISTORY OF SMITH’S. AND IT JUST SHOWS THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT SHOWS KIND OF HOW MUCH THIS COMMUNITY WILL RALLY AROUND PEOPLE. AND WE’RE BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THAT AND STILL BE BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THAT. NOW, AFTER SPEAKING TO PEOPLE HERE IN MOUNTAIN BROOK, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY’RE SENDING THEIR PRAYERS TO NATALIE HOLLOWAY’S FAMILY AS THEY DEAL WITH THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS. AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN HER HERE IN TH

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. —

Video above: Mountain Brook remembers yellow bows in memory of Natalee Holloway as case develops

Natalee Holloway, of Mountain Brook, Alabama, went on a high school graduation trip to Aruba. She was 18 years old. She never showed up for the return flight home.

Previous Coverage: Here's what we know about the disappearance of Natalee Holloway

Her classmates said they last saw her with Joran van der Sloot, who was 17 at the time, and two others as they left a club. The three said they dropped her off at a hotel.

They were questioned and detained but freed because of a lack of evidence.

Holloway's disappearance made national headlines, and her parents were active and vocal in trying to get investigators to find their daughter.

The Mountain Brook community surrounded the family with support, and yellow bows were put on houses as an act of faith.

Here's a look at how the community has remembered Holloway over the years.

One year after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway

To learn more about the case, click here.

Natalee Holloway would have celebrated 33rd birthday today

To read the full story, click here.

Natalee Holloway vanished in Aruba on this day 17 years ago

To read the full story, click here.

Mountain Brook remembers Natalee Holloway on 18th anniversary of disappearance

To read the full story, click here.

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