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Red Fridays
May 2, 2008
I recently heard about Red Fridays.
So I wore a red shirt today to work. I didn't see anyone else wearing red.
I found myself wanting to talk about why I was wearing red. So I took a small yellow post-it note and I wrote 4065 + on it in red and pinned it to my left shoulder, just above my heart. Everyone I dealt with today asked me what it meant. That's about 40 people who didn't know before today.
4065 was this morning's number of recorded US military deaths in Iraq. I told anyone who asked "That's how many US soldiers have died fighting this war." But it's not about the number, it is about the support.
The reactions were interesting. I saw some people's eyes tear up, I heard some people's anger at the loss of life, and I heard some people's embarrassment that they didn't even know.
Your voice doesn't have to be loud to be heard.
Your actions don't have to be grand to be noticed.
Support the men and women, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons.
Wear red if you can.
Don't let yourself forget what's happening over there.
I did not write the original post about Red Fridays; it is as I found it below.
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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 a m 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 home coming 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.
-Kyliegirl
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