Saturday, March 10, 2007

Red Friday
I got this in an e-mail from my mother, who received it from my aunt. Now, I am telling everyone I can. Now, you can disagree, rant and rave, you can tell me how much you hate this war, you can call me every name under the sun, but this has nothing to do with the war, this has to do with the men and women who are fighting that war. They didn't have a say in wether they went or not, all their doing is what they have to do, and if you can't support that, then you're not worth arguing with. Please, if you want to tell me I'm wrong, feel free, but remember that I'm just supporting what I believe. They need us now more than ever. This is the least we can do.

> Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant
> traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we
> boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in
First
> Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
>
> No, he responded.
>
> Heading out I asked?
>
> No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
>
> Going to pick him up?
>
> No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq I'm taking him home to
> his family.
>
>
> The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the
gut.
> It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the
soldier,
> he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as
if
> he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him,
> extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what! you do so my
> family and I can do what we do.
>
> Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the
> following announcement over the intercom.
>
> "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of
having
> Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He
> is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please
> remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley
to
> deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt
> sign."
>
> Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the
> casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I
am
> proud to be an American.
> So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so
we
> can live the way we do.
>
>
> Red Fridays.
>
> Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing
> Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support
> our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We
> are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for
> God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We
> are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
>
> Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends,
> simply want to recognize that the vast majority of
> America supports our troops. Our idea of showing
> solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
> respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and
> every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a
> deafening message that ... every red-blooded American
> who supports our men and women afar, will wear
> something red.
>
> By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United
> States on every Friday a sea of red much like a
> homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every
> one of us who loves this country will share this with
> acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will
> not be long before the USA is! covered in RED and it
> will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is
> on their side more than ever, certainly more than the
> media lets on.
>
> The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can
> we do to make things better for you?" is .."We need
> your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out
> and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear
> something red every Friday.
>

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