Fwd: FW: RED SHIRT

I have been doing this as many times as I can remember for many years.  Spread the word.

Eric

Red Shirt 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 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 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 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.    IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON. IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON