LONG BUT VERY IMPORTANT.

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From: E Palaka <gimpybear46396@...>
To: Joy <joymomgram@...>
Subject: FW: Red Fridays
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 11:45:46 -0500

/ To: Subject: Red Fridays               PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE  EMAIL AND YOU SEE WHAT                              IS MEANT BY RED FRIDAY.   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.   IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS  ON. IT IS YOUR CHOICE. WE  LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!         ____________________________________________________________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail

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