If the Red shirt thing is new to you, read below...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 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 home coming 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.
Tears did come to my eyes as I read this . . . my Dad was in Vietnam and I've always been very proud of that! I'm proud to be an American and I'm proud of our soldiers who are fighting for our Freedom today! I have a hard time holding back the tears when I hear our National Anthem (even at the beginning of a Nascar race), or at 4th of July parades when Veteran's of past wars march past me, Veteran's Day parades and assemblies at my kiddos school honoring our local Veteran's. I know that this coming Veteran's Day will even be harder to deal with since it will be the one-year anniversary of my FIL's passing, he too was a Veteran. This photo was taken at Jakob's school Veteran's Day assembly this year, the same day we got the phone call about Joe's Dad . . . it was a very emotional day and this is such a touching photo!
Don't forget . . . you can use one or both of these sketches to be entered into a drawing. All you have to do is post a link to your creations in your comment on the Page Plans blog. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Each Sunday they reveal a new set of sketches and the Design Teams take on each one. You will have the opportunity to complete one of the sketches and enter it in the weekly challenge for a little goodie package. Sketches will post on Sunday - so they will need your entries by the following Saturday and they will announce the winner on Sunday with the next set of sketches. If you have any questions at all - please feel free to email Lesli and Chris at pageplans@gmail.com.
I'm thrilled to have been chosen to be a part of this DT and I can't wait to get started!
Thanks Chelsea and this couldn't have come at a better time! It was a rough night and it put a little smile on my face seeing that I was tagged by you bright and early this morning. Not to mention it's Friday and the weekend is about to begin . . . I may need this again by the end of next week when Spring Break is over though! Now I have to tag people that cheer me up. I have so many people that do, but I can't put down that many . . . I picked the first three people that popped into my head.
And here's the 12x12 LO that I created of my cute, little nephew Mason. This picture was taken on Easter, he had me laughing so hard . . . I won't get into the story, but all day he kept saying "Jellyballs" instead of "Jellybeans"! It was hilarious!!! <---- OK, maybe you had to be there!
