Subject: RED FRIDAYS - RED SHIRT

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In case you've forgotten what 'Red Friday' is all about.

The 'wear something red on Fridays' was actually started by the wives in CFB Petawawa as a way to express their support for the Canadian soldiers over seas.

The Red Shirt:

If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a
man...

Last week, while traveling to Toronto on business, I noticed an army
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 Afghanistan, 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 Toronto, 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 Canadian Armed Forces 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 a Canadian.

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? Canadians 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 Canadians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of Canadians 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 Canadian who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make Canada on every Friday a sea of
red much like a homecoming Hockey game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers,
friends, and family, it will not be long before the Canada 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.

--
Of course, there is no need to limit this to Canadians. Their excellant idea should be universal. The world is at war, like it or not. We need to show our support to all our troops where ever they hail from. If, for some reason a red shirt is not an option for you, a red tie or simply a red button would help. The ultimate sacrifice is not something to ignore, my Brothers. They traded their lives for ours.