Signs of the gulf war are appearing all over town -- even in the commercial district.

Several stores in State College are selling gas masks, "Desert Storm" flags and T-shirts.

Jim Gingerich, an owner of Jim's Army and Navy, 227 S. Allen St., said he sells Desert Storm items because people ask for them.

T-shirts with logos like "Desert Storm -- We Came, We Saw, We Kicked Ass" and "Operation Desert Storm -- Support the Troops" are among the many items sold at the store. Patches, decals with American flags and "Desert Storm" license-plate frames are also available. Gingerich said the T-shirts are selling well.

Other items, such as flags and gas masks have sold out because "people just wanted them," said Anne Gingerich, another owner. "Anything with the American flag sells well."

House of Kashmir, 130 Calder Way, also sells "Desert Storm" T-shirts because people were asking about them, owner Saghir Ahmad said. Some of the T-shirts say "SCUD Buster Tour '91" on the front and list Mideast cities on the back. Other shirts are emblazoned with the slogan, "A Bullet for Every Madman" around a picture of Hussein.

Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts from Kuwait City continue to sell, and the store continues to get new items, Ahmad said.

But he added that he is still selling peace sign earings and shorts.

"I think half (of the customers) look at (the T-shirts) and like them and half like the peace sign," Ahmad said.

McLanahan's, 414 E. College Ave., sells one Desert Storm T-shirt that says "Operation Desert Storm."

"It doesn't support the war, it's for the people there. It's sort of a neutral shirt," general manager Ray Agostinelli said.

G.C. Murphy Co., 127 S. Allen St., has a display of American flags in the front windows and sells "Desert Storm" T-shirts and sweatshirts. The shirts have logos like "Operation Desert Storm --United We Stand" and "These Colors Don't Run" underneath an American flag.

Manager John Kelley said the shirts are selling pretty well but the flags are selling better.