( Got this email from a good friend who is a VET . Had to C/P )



If the Red Shirt Friday is new to you, read below...


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.
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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.



I'll wear my red .
papawdude

Papaw, that is great, I have been doing that for years now. I wear red every friday. I have not missed a friday in a long time now..

Most dont know what it means, but I have had Soldiers and Airmen come up and say thank you. I tell them no sir, thank you for all you do...

Great post Papaw..

Thanks for the post Papawdude. I never knew that. Thankfully, I do now. I will be buying a red T shirt and sweat shirt TODAY.

I have several red shirts, so I am always ready..

Most of MY red shirts are from the Army anyhow. I have to remember.

Man here again. And yes I wear a red shirt on Friday.

BUMP

Good thread, good bump...

YES its friday and yes I do have no a red shirt, told ya.. This one I got from the Dayton Air Show last year...

Later.

TUV Pappaw gone? I really didn't know him all that well but he was funny to read. " May he have been in Heaven a half hour before the Devil even knew he was gone."An Irish Blessing.

Hey Sarge, good to see ya again...

Yes, he was a good man, funny man, he will be missed alot..

Really good to see again..

One of my friend told me the story and I have been wearing my red shirt on fridays and trying to get my friend in va to were theres too.

Been doing it for years, will continure to also..


I dont think I missed but one in all the years I do it, I uh, did that about 2 months ago, I was spending the night at a friends house on a thursday, but I did redeem myself some, I did have on a red bandana.. That was something..

I try to wear a red shirt on Fridays too. Speaking of things patriot, did you ever get that tat of the pic from my T-shirt Ray? I know you have been arsehole deep with other things I was just wondering.

NOT yet, but I did show it to my tat guy, he says I will have to get it bigger so we are trying to figure out where to put it..

I do like it, so I will mostly likely use it, just have to save up the money first... ITs gonna be expensive for this one...

We are trying to arrange it so it fits on my inner arm, so we are working on it to see how to make it look good.. IF we cant, I may put it on my leg maybe...

just this last summer, one of my coworkers husband was over in the middle east and we started having the office to red fridays. everyone that i have told about red fridays says that isnt true and it is all a iant lie. but wutever to those people and i wear red every friday and i have even got some of the professors at my school doing it too.

Its a personnal thing really, if you wear red on fridays for that reason, then its true for you..

I have never missed a friday in many years, I do it for that reason too. I have 13 friends over there right now, before I had any over there, I did it for years for my troops that I never met.

I dont have to know you to respect you..

One of my best buddies I have never met in person, he is a Vet, and I love him like a brother.

IF you search the Papaw is gone thread? that man was my father, and I never met him either.. Met him here 8 years ago, and his death is still just as painful today as when he died..

I DO IT for all my troops, and that includes every single military service member, in harms way or not..

EL BUMPO

Wearing my red shirt with planes on it and my RED POW do rag..

SALUTE TO our troops.

I’m wearing a red t-shirt with the flag pin from my leather jacket. . .
. . .and unlike TUV I’m wearing pants too