Red Shirt Fridays
If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man...Last week, while traveling to Toronto on business, I noticed an
army 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 Afganistan, 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 Toronto , 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 Canadian Armed Forces 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 a Canadian.
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? Canadians 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 Canadians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of Canadians 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 Canadian who supports our men and women afar, will wear
something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make Canada on every Friday a
sea of red much like a homecoming Hockey game in the bleachers. If
every one of us who loves this country will share this with
acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long
before the Canada 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.
Posted by Dave on: Tuesday March 31 09:48:48 AM
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