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Support our Troops
As some of you know...I am on a mission usually. Gotta have a cause or I just ain't right in the head! LOL.
Remember the red shirt Friday thread/discussion I posted not long ago. (If not I will attach the letter at the end.) I think it would be great if the men and woman oversea and at home would "see" our support. If America wears red they will know quietly we support them. Just like the pink and yellow ribbons.
I want to do my part, so here is what I am doing. My sister and I are designing red shirts for those who would like to support our troops. I wish we could make a million and hand them out but I have not made my fortunes yet...working on it, right now I just do my job and be blessed I can.
A little history about my family. My mom, dad, grandpa, cousins, brother-in-law..etc are military. Plus I live near the Norfolk Naval Base, Langley AFB, Fort Monroe and Fort Eustis. When I saw the red shirt Friday letter it motivated me to start making shirts. I thought it would be great to have a website dedicated to this cause to get the word out. Wouldn't it be awesome for the men and woman who are serving us every minute of their lives to see that kind of support?! If you have not seen the letter, here ya go...
If the Red shirt thing is new to you, 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 n ews 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, all our friends, and me 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.
Remember the red shirt Friday thread/discussion I posted not long ago. (If not I will attach the letter at the end.) I think it would be great if the men and woman oversea and at home would "see" our support. If America wears red they will know quietly we support them. Just like the pink and yellow ribbons.
I want to do my part, so here is what I am doing. My sister and I are designing red shirts for those who would like to support our troops. I wish we could make a million and hand them out but I have not made my fortunes yet...working on it, right now I just do my job and be blessed I can.
A little history about my family. My mom, dad, grandpa, cousins, brother-in-law..etc are military. Plus I live near the Norfolk Naval Base, Langley AFB, Fort Monroe and Fort Eustis. When I saw the red shirt Friday letter it motivated me to start making shirts. I thought it would be great to have a website dedicated to this cause to get the word out. Wouldn't it be awesome for the men and woman who are serving us every minute of their lives to see that kind of support?! If you have not seen the letter, here ya go...
If the Red shirt thing is new to you, 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 n ews 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, all our friends, and me 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.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melissa L. on
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Here is the website www.supportredfriday.webs.com
It is under construction still. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to add them or email me @ firetruck_red1005@yahoo.com or supportredfriday@live.com
We are in the process of publishing our Logo and the designs of the shirts right now. Stay tuned.
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Nelson on
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I think it is great that you are doing this. We have as a department recognized red shirt friday and wear them. It really means something to us because we lost one of our firefighters over there. He was a field medic there and was killed with a road side bomb 2 weeks before he was to come home. I also have a son over in Jalalabad Afgahnistan and I pray for every day to come home safely. He only has till Aug. I can't wait. I favoraited your web page. Thank you
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Thank you. That's great to hear about your Dept's support. Sorry to hear about your loss, may your brother rest and peace and always be remembered and honored. I hope your son is doing well and I pray for his safe return. There is a discussion forum to talk about deployment and family on the site if you would like to talk.
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I would like to do that. Could you send me the link? Thanks
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Permalink Reply by Mary Ellen Shea on
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thanks for posting this. Our department is holding a collection next weekend to send to our men and women serving in Iraq.
We only hope that this one small gesture will send a message to our troops that we think about them, we worry for them , and that we care. They are not forgotten, not now, and not until they come home.
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Barbara,
Go to www.supportredfriday.webs.com then click on the forums button, if you scroll down there is a section about Family and spouses on deployment.
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Permalink Reply by Devil Doc on
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As someone who has served a total of 39 months in Iraq and Afghanistan, I just want to say Thank You.
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Doc, Thank you for serving our country. I appreciate all you do and the sacrifice you made everyday you were there. We live in freedom because of people like you. I can go outside and grill, take my daughter to beach and put her in any school I want because I live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave!
We would love it if you could be a part of a discussion on the website. Is there anything I can do to make it more military friendly for you and others? Let me know on there or here. Thanks again!
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Thank you for the link. I will be there.
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Permalink Reply by FireCat on
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Doc –
Thank you! I appreciate all of the sacrifices you made for us to live in freedom!
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Thank you for your reply NY! I am sure the smallest measure of kindness goes a long way and they will appreciate the heart and effort you and your dept. have put into showing your support.
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Permalink Reply by William Finnelli on
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I am active duty right now on deployment. I wont be home for at least another 6 months or so, I will miss my wife's birthday and my daughters aswell. And i will probably miss my new baby girls first steps/ crawls and somthing that might sound like words. And knowing this i thatnk you for your quiet yet active support of our natins military. I do this for you and your family so you may live a life of peace and free of terrorism. Once agian i thank you.
ABH2 (AW) WILLIAM A FINNELLI
USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)
CURRENTLY DEPLOYED TO UNKOWN LOCATIONS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND PURSIAN GULF
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