RED FRIDAY
Subject: - Red Friday in the Land of the Free
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling in first class with a folded flag in his lap. I turned to the sergeant, and inquired if he was heading home. "No," he responded.
"Heading out?" I asked. " No. I'm escorting a soldier home who 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. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize how proud I am to be an American.
This is my public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what they do so we can live in the land of the free. Begin this week honoring Red Friday. Like our Masonic fraternity, the often called "silent majority." shall no longer be silent, and we should voice our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers by wearing RED on Fridays. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the majority of Americans support 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, co-workers, 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. The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" He says. 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.
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