I support the 'wearing of the red'!!! Do you???
A Simple Thank You
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.
Signed:
Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C.
Also, here are
two very touching photos honored at this years International Picture of
the Year.
First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky
Mountain News
When 2nd
Lt. James Cathy's body arrived at the Reno Airport,
Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his
casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the
arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck
described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching
those Marines. You gotta
wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that
brought him home," he said. "They
will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine
home. And they should."
Second Place
The night
before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey
refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last
time. The Marines made a bed for her,
tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop
computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines
asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you
kept doing it," she said. "I
think that's what he would have wanted."
PLEASE
KEEP THIS GOING!
"No
arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will
and moral courage of free men and women."
Ronald Reagan
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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.
IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.
IT IS YOUR CHOICE.