Red Friday

[ITH]

We've probably all see this.. But the Red shirt thing is new to me..
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.

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.

[})FA.cL0cK]

America. Fuck Ya.

[ITH]

i just thought i would let u know that i love u jimma in the most non heterosexual way possible

[IceBlade]

Originally Posted by ITH

i just thought i would let u know that i love u jimma in the most non heterosexual way possible

So you love him in a very homosexual way eh? See guys I'm not the only homo here.

[ITH]

yes ... yes i do u got a problem with that

[Spin]

Originally Posted by })FA.cL0cK

America. Fuck Ya.

yup, yup, i'll second that

[SacredTbag]

i'm sorry, but i'm completely against everything that our government/military is doing. i understand what the Sgt was doing, but i find it utterly unnecessary. we shouldn't have people getting killed in the first place. and then when it does happen, someone does die, they make this huge deal out of it, like "oops, that wasn't supposed to happen." he was in the military. does america think that they're over there handing out candy? no, they have weapons to kill others that have weapons. if our country is just going to bitch and moan everytime one of our servicemen (or women) die, they we should just stop sending them over there! we are over in their country fighting them. they're not just going to let us run them over. they're going to fight back.

i did 6 years in the navy, 4 active duty, and 2 in active reserve. i believe i have the right to voice my opinion here. i'm not trying to turn this into a flame, i'm just saying what i think of it.

[ITH]

you served time in the military and u cant respect what someone is doing for their fellow brother in arms. you make me sick yes that is what we signed up to do but it doesnt make dying easier your still losing what you care for. the military does not make decisions it gets told what to do by the president you should know that as well all the things the us military does is because we are following orders.

i have been to iraq, korea, and twice to afghanistan and if u cant respect the proper send off of a soldier... no a human being than u can go fuck yourself keep your ignorant comments to your damn self.

[Spin]

Originally Posted by SacredTbag

i'm sorry, but i'm completely against everything that our government/military is doing. i understand what the Sgt was doing, but i find it utterly unnecessary. we shouldn't have people getting killed in the first place. and then when it does happen, someone does die, they make this huge deal out of it, like "oops, that wasn't supposed to happen." he was in the military. does america think that they're over there handing out candy? no, they have weapons to kill others that have weapons. if our country is just going to bitch and moan everytime one of our servicemen (or women) die, they we should just stop sending them over there! we are over in their country fighting them. they're not just going to let us run them over. they're going to fight back.

i did 6 years in the navy, 4 active duty, and 2 in active reserve. i believe i have the right to voice my opinion here. i'm not trying to turn this into a flame, i'm just saying what i think of it.

dammet...ya mean there was a pre-requisite to post in this thread....hehe

dude you have the right to voice ur opinion anywhere...but as ITH said and it kinda my feelings too...

if u cant respect the proper send off of a soldier... no a human being than u can go fuck yourself keep your ignorant comments to your damn self.

[SacredTbag]

i was bashing on the gov and military as a whole. not singling any single one out. i also said that i understand what was happening, i just said that i think that it's totally unnecessary and shouldn't have happened in the first place. ok, someone died, and that sucks and all, but if it wasn't for our dumbass government in the first place, that man would probably have a happy life. ok, he died for his country, and that may have made him happy in some sense, but do you think his grieving family really see it that way? how many families out there are THAT patriotic to gladly give up their son for a government that really doesn't give a shit about them? remember, i was in the military too. i know that most of the people that are serving do NOT view it as a service for their country. to most it's just a job, or they're doing it for something later on in their lives. the vast majority of service members are there simply because it was a last resort for them.

this is just my opinion and i have the right to voice it. there is no reason to start any flaming. i won't bash you for your views, so please return the favor. by my experience i feel justified in what i'm saying. you may have had a different experience from mine and maybe it turned out all right for you. mine didn't.