"Red Shirts"
 

Got this in an email today. Mods if your obligated to move it, feel free...just thought I'd share with my friends:

If the Red shirt thing 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 ******ing 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 ******ing 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.

RE: "Red Shirts"
 

Great... Now I have to go out and buy something red..

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1st class Post Kyle!!

Break out the Red!!

Dan

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Ill soon have the whole school wearing red on Fridays, it'll probably confuse the hell out of the teachers though;):D

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Got my red shirt already picked out for tomorrow......Thanks for the post!

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My wife and I have to go up to the big city tommorow, we will both be wearing red. Thanks for sharing that with us.


Ed

RE: "Red Shirts"
 

Great story, can one support the troops and not the war???? I don't think so, but this is off topic...

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WOW. That is quite a story. I will be wearing red tomorrow you can count on it since I came from the military! My brother -in-law is still in the Air Force and did 2 years over in that mess!

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Makes me feel good to see that there are still a lot of people that believe in us and support us. I got so many packages from people that I have never met and it kept my motivation up during my 12 months in Iraq. God bless the USA and God bless the people that support us and every thing that we do for this great nation.

RE: "Red Shirts"
 

Awesome post yet kind of wierd too.

Yesterday I worea red BowTech hoodie that I had just gotten. However, before I wore it I asked my step daughter if it looked o.k. on mebecause I own absolutely nothing red...I mean nothing...

Now I wish I had it with me so I could wear it tomorrow...


God Bless our Troops!

RE: "Red Shirts"
 

Pat, nothing could help you look good brother. [8D];) J/K bro.


And Kyle, thanks for posting that.

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I think I'll wear mine!:D

Dan

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I got this in my e-mail for the first time on the 14th of July 2007, and at least 6 times since!!!

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Kyle - I thank you for this article and I am pleased with the responses you have recieved before mine. I see Vabowman is confused as are many Americans.He only needs to realize when he wakes up every morning and doesn't feel fear of harm to know the answer to his question. We tend to take ourliberties for granted. I served in and retired from the US Army in 1996. Though I trained for it my whole adult life; I never set foot on hostile soil yet my own 21 year old son is in Afghanistan as I write this note. Sir, I will be in red tomorrow and all Fridays to come!

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True that but you see, you need to thoroughly read my post...I said "did it look o.k. on me", not "I look good in red"...;)

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Glad to see so many replys, and supporters. You can bet I'll be wearing red in support of the troops (including my cousin)!

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While we haven't desiganted all fridays, up here in Canada we have had several rallies organized where everyone in attendace wears red in support of our troops.
Back to Vabowman's comment, yes, you can support the troops and not the war. Very few Canadians support the war, but the vast majority will tell you that they support our troops. Recently we renamed a stretch of one of the heaviest travelled roads in North America the "Highway of Heroes" because our fallen soldiers travel it between CFB Trenton and our forensics centre in toronto. Each fallen sodier that travels this stretch is greeted by supporters and emergency vehicles with all their lights flashing on the overpasses.
Here's a link:
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_14055.aspx

RE: "Red Shirts"
 

Yeah this things been around since the desert strorm days..the stories a typical sap story probably created at someones desk.


I always give gratitude to the Troops.. Because I feel it, not cuz a sappyemail said it was the hip thing to do!

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Its a shame that I wasn't able to read this earlier. I am sitting at work on Friday morning and the only red that I have on is some lettering. I am going to from now on though.

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Thank God for our Men and Women in the armed forces. Pray for them daily and also for their families who are struggling to make a living without them.

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Too late for me for today. Looks like I'll have to do some shopping for something red.

Thanks for sharing, and God Bless America!

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Dont have a clue on what to say! Total loss of "RESPECT"![:@]

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Red Friday has been the norm for quite awhile.....


TeeJay

Its like saying you support the economy but dont spend any money to help it...

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Really? I hadn't heard of this. Maybe I didn't notice thered out there'cause I'm colorblind. I don't think it'd go over well if I showed up with a red t-shirt under my uniform shirt. HOWEVER.... 18 more days and I'll be joining you all wearing civilian clothes to work!:D:D

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Wore red today. God Bless our troops throughout the world.

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I wish I'd have seen this post yesterday.

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I have been wearing red consistenly for the last few months - I got this e-mail a few months back and the message is loud and clear - thanks to the troops and the sacrifices they make daily