Manda Monium's blog: "Please Read This."

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