As a Company,Southwest Airlines is going to support 'RedFridays.'
Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving through the terminal was a group of soldiers in theircamos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be moreproud of my country or of ourservice men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi.' The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her.
The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her Daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster, and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
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 over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of Americans 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, 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 - 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.
I had no idea what was on this thread, when I opened it. As I read, my eyes started leaking, and it got a bit difficult to see the words. Thank you for sharing this, and I will be wearing red every Friday, til all of my heroes are home, safe and sound. This isn't made up, because I know how much my kids missed home and family, and how much we missed them. I'll spread this far and wide, and help the "RED" tide grow across the country. Thank you, Bud, for sharing this heart touching story.
May God, bless all those serving.
And also watch over, the families left behind.
__________________
"If we ever forget we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
A Man WITH a gun is a CITIZEN, a Man WITHOUT a gun is a SUBJECT
Whether it happened or not, the part about the little girl or even a little boy waiting and missing their dad or mom is real to thousands of kids. Won't it be nice when our mission is finished and all the soldiers are home?
Those were American Fighting Men that never forgot WHAT they were fighting for, while they were not of my generation I am beyond proud to call them brothers, God Bless and keep them and honor them always these few selfless souls are what keep us free and beyond that proud to be Americans!
When I was very young I came off a Mid-Pac, my son was in the truck hollering at every sailor he saw screaming at the top of his lungs..... Hey Sailor have you seen my Daddy! Of course none of them knew me at least not by the looks of that little boy. But each and everyone of them kept telling him I'd be along any old time as soon as I got my work done as I was Senior then it took a while but each and everyone of those sailors took a moment out of his life and needs and desires to assure my son I was safe and comming home. That is a brotherhood. Don't tell me there is no longer a brother and now sisterhood of American fightingmen cause Sir I doesn't believe it!
__________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"
True or not, it is true there are plenty of little girls, and little boys, who miss their mothers and fathers because they're off protecting us and our ideals and beliefs.
And this one true or not, it is true their are many unsung heroes doing what needs to be done so we can go about our daily lives without worry...
Very touching indeed!!!
__________________ "My next door neighbors two dogs have created more shovel ready jobs then Obama has." - Gary Johnson
Whenever I'm in public, and run across these young military people, I shake their hands, and tell them how much I appreciate their sacrifices. When I'm at an airport, they get hugs, even if it embarrasses them. I made myself a promise that these kids won't have the grief that we got, coming home from our wars.
It's a wonderful idea, but (and I really hate to be the fly in the buttermilk, but..) I see a small problem. Nowadays, wearing red in the wrong areas of some U.S. cities and neighborhoods is not really all that good an idea if you know what I mean? It could be hazardous to your health.
Not in my part of the country. We have put our collective foot down, and are dealing with the problem you are refering to, the gang problem. We don't have to worry about the colors we wear, here in Oklahoma, and I wish the rest of the country would start doing the same. They're a bit more cautious about committing crimes, and shooting at folks out here, because they may very well catch a bunch of return fire, a bit more accurate than they like.
wether real or not its a touching story. we have to give these men and women the thanks they deserve. when ever i see a soldier i go out of my way to tell them how much i appreciate all they do. i know 2 kids that are heading to afganistan now. i dont really like them (my sister x and his brother. pretty big jerks) but i respect them for what they are doing for us. I hope they make it home safe.
wether real or not its a touching story. we have to give these men and women the thanks they deserve. when ever i see a soldier i go out of my way to tell them how much i appreciate all they do. i know 2 kids that are heading to afganistan now. i dont really like them (my sister x and his brother. pretty big jerks) but i respect them for what they are doing for us. I hope they make it home safe.
The thing is: The way they went in will probably not be the way they come back. You might see a whole new person!
Even if this is an apocryphal story, it strikes me as exactly what any returning serviceman or -woman would do for a little kid. If it is not true today, you can bet it will be at some point.
What a refreshing change from the way the Left Coast welcomed back the servicemen who fought in Vietnam! Could it possibly be we as a nation learned something from that?
There's still a few out there, Cyrano. I had to explain to a fella in California that if he persisted in shouting at the recruiters, during a protest, the vets who'd arrived to counter the protest would prob'ly lose their patience, and get physical, even if it meant going to jail. The police finally herded the idiots across the street, then came back and thanked us for being there. I was a bit amazed, but they felt just the way we did, but couldn't do anything about it. All is well, that ends well!!!
I was in the military during Desert Storm, and, while I was never actually deployed there, I swear I was never allowed to buy my own meals or drinks when I was in uniform. It was the most incredible experience of my life and it made me very proud to be a part of this great country. The people of this country are (for the most part) a strong, supportive, and caring group.
After returning from Iraq, so many people would stop me wanting to shake my hand or hug me that I would only put on my uniform when I reached my unit and took it off before I left for any amount of time.
Many of the people would go on and on about how much they appreciated my service, to which I told them if they really appreaciated it they would call their congressman and tell them to give us a pay raise. That took many by suprise and usually got me a promise to do so. Never got that pay raise though.
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