PLEASE WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS!  

If  the Red Shirt thing is new to you, read below  how it went for a man....


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 th e 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  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 a far, 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 wi ll let our troops know the
once  "silent" majority is on their side more than ever,
certainly more than the media lets  on.men and womenmilitary Men and Women

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.