red fridays

[teeroy]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE EMAIL AND YOU SEE WHAT IS MEANT BY RED FRIDAY.
>
>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,
>sim ply 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 le ad with class and dignity, by example, and wear
>something red every Friday.
>
>IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.
>
>IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON

 

[Steve-O]

I will add to this post. When you see that flaged covered casket it is sure a reality check. I was at a Air Base over seas and all of the fallen soldiers came through that base on C-17s. I just happened to be delivering bombs to F-16's when he opened the rear hatch and the trucks pulled up to remove them to get them on their correct flight back to the states. All the months I spent over that was a definite reality check that not all of us get the fortunate ability to come back home to our families. All you could do is bow your head and give them a thanks, shed a tear for them, and send prayers to their families which most of us will never meet.

Great post Teeroy! I hope we all can do this. It would be neat if someone could figure out a wrist band (kind of like the Lance armstrong ones) that we could all buy and then the money be donated to the families of fallen soldiers.

God Bless all of you and thanks for serving or those that have served. I know there are others on here

 

[crash]

great post tee-roy, i wear red everyday unless i`m hunting.

 

[1arrow]

Thanks for sharing TEEROY

 

[larsen]

I saw this at a base in Germany once. It really puts things into perspective.

 

[kbgibby]

You may not have time to read it now ... it's an very lengthy story but a reporter and photographer from the Rocky Mountain News won a Pulitzer Prize for their story on the families of fallen Marines and the officers charged with first notifying families and then accompanying the caskets to bring them home.
It's a great/tragic story but well worth the time.

You can find it at:

Final Salute