Please take a look -- this is the only mail I will ever forward to you. Chris

[Guest guest]

Note: I do not read much less forward group letters. This one, however, is an

exception and I promise I will never send a group e-mail again.

blessings to you all,

Chris

> Subject: Red Shirts

>

> *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.

>

> IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.

>

> IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON

>

> --

> Jo Oeltjen

> Business Coordinator

> Workforce Development, Inc.

> 1302 Seventh Street NW

> Rochester, MN 55901

> Phone: 507.292.5185

> Fax: 507.292.5173

> Email: joeltjen@...

_________________________________________________________________

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