dateInputComponent - initial value of blank

I'm using the wrapper component, "dateInputComponent" to create date boxes on my forms.  I need to make the initial value of the date box an empty string or a null value.  I've been unable to do this because the component attribute "dateValue" requires a correct date.  It won't take "" or null or anything that is not a correct date value.  Does anyone know how to make this form field blank?

This is not the same thing as a date attribute on an object that can be set to blank using allClients.xml or the JCA describeProperty tags for JCA tables. This is using the wrappers tags.

<%@ taglib uri=http://www.ptc.com/windchill/taglib/wrappers prefix="w"%>

<w:dateInputComponent name="startDate" id="startDate" required="false" dateValueType="DATE_ONLYE"/>