I received this in an email from Uncle Lamont, I think it's a beautiful story and a great idea to simply support our troops. No matter where you stand politically we can all support the men and women who serve our country. I'll be wearing red this Friday. Happy Veterans Day.
Red Shirt
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 i s 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.
It's almost Christmas!!! I am so excited! We have our tree up (you may have noticed that all the low hanging ornaments are missing, Our resident toddler loves to play with them and has been redecorating the house)
We made a huge mess in the kitchen, but we got some yummy sugar cookies out of it. What's a little flour? Violet dumped all the flour on the counter so we had more than a cup to flour the counter and the pin. She had a great time cutting shapes out of the flour with the cookie cutters.
Peter took this picture and I think it is beautiful.
After the cookie making. Violet was ready for a shower and I was ready for a long winters nap.
Violet playing with the flour and stealing cookie dough.
Caught ya!! stealing all the dough?!?
Claire loves this little sea horse it's kind of the same idea as a glow worm. Claire is such a funny baby. Today is her 4 month b-day, she makes the funniest faces and is a real smiler and she loves to cuddle.
We went over to Hunter's Christmas tree farm and picked our tree. This is the first time in a lot of years that we've had a real tree, it smells wonderful.
Violet had a blast at the tree farm, she ran up and down the rows of trees and had a lot of fun petting the goats.
We don't have many pictures of us as a couple but I think we look ok. We are coming out of the newborn haze.... I hope :).
What a cutie.
Which one should we get?
Earlier this month was my Grandpa Sam's b-day. Violet really enjoyed the cake.
My Dad was giving my Mom Bunny ears, it was a fun day.
Violet didn't wait for the cake to be cut she just grabbed a spoon and dug right in!!!
Claire in her Christmas dress. She's growing so fast, it's barely going to make it through Christmas before she grows out of it!!!
Claire having a chat with Grandpa.
What a great gift!
Violet and Claire got matching jammies....well they usually have matching jammies but these have snowmen on them.
Claire was kind of mad at me because I made her sit still next to Violet.
Violet thought this was really funny.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Emily: If you can your Mom would absolutely love a short video of Christmas morning. We really wish we could all be together, maybe another year. We love you guys!
J
