OT...Will you give this to my Daddy?

[Sojourner]

Let us be patriotic...this from an e-mail from someone. Jerry

Will you give this to my Daddy?

As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support 'Red Fridays.'

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 thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos.  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 more proud of my country or of our service 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 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 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.

IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON. 

IF YOU COULD CARE LESS THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON --- IT IS YOUR CHOICE.
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.
THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED---- SO WEAR RED! --- MAY GOD HELP AMERICA TO BECOME ONE NATION, UNDER GOD.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.   
So many things are not worth anything,but this I can and will do!
_______________________________________________________________

PS...A red shirt day every Friday would cause American to wonder why we see red shirt on Friday? It a WAKE UP CALL to remember our men who was & still in service. Jerry

[NJT 5573]

I'm in.

[Bruce MC9]

THANKS!

[BusCrazyTom]

AMEN!

[Flyboy]

That's an awesome story...very moving.

I thanked a couple of your guys while on my last cycle through Honolulu last week.  They looked at me kind of funny because of my Canadian accent, but smiled anyways.  There's a "silent" majority up here who support yours and ours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This Canadian will be wearing red on friday on the North side of this great continent of ours.

FB.

[Dreamscape]

I agree with all said.
I received a clip from ABC news that did a Person Of The Week in Feb of this year. One man at DFW had visited the airport over 300 times last year with a group just to welcome home troups. What an outstanding thing to do.
I tried to copy and paste, did not work. Not sure how I can share it with all of you. It brought tears to me eyes to see how touched they all were.

God Bless Our Troops

Paul

[mc8 tin tent]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
   I CUT AND PASTED ,SENT IT TO EVERYONE ON MY EMAIL  LIST PLEASE KEEP IT GOING
        DWAYNE

[Sojourner]

I have add a suggestion to bottom of first post.
"PS...A red shirt day every Friday would cause American to wonder why we see red shirt on Friday? It a WAKE UP CALL to remember our men who was & still in service." Jerry

[Hi yo silver]

I can't help but feel just a little hurt because the veterans of the Vietnam era weren't better appreciated.  If you were lucky, you're were simply ignored.  Even as cynical as I am, this story touched me.  What a great thing to share and keep going. Thanks
Dennis

[brojcol]

Dennis,

I gather that you are a Vietnam Veteran.  If you are, I for one thank you very much for your service during the Vietnam War.  I was born in 1969 but I read history and I love my country.  One day I had a man come into my office to file for disability.  As I looked over his military records, I noticed he was a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran.  I got up, walked around my desk and shook his hand and said, "Sir, I am grateful for your service and sacrifice to this country.  I just want you to know that you are a hero in my book."   

People in my office must have thought I was crazy.  He almost broke down right there.  I didn't mean to make him cry...but I hope he carries that moment with him for a long time.

[bubbaqgal]

At my last job, one of the phone interview questions I had to ask was "Are you a veteran?"  When the answer was yes, I told them I wanted to thank them for serving our country.  One man told me that though he is a veteran, he never served in a war.  I told him that it didn't matter to me, he was there, willing to fight for America.  I had a couple of men get choked up because no one had ever thanked them before.  I told them all that there are people in this country that appreciate them for what they do and have done. I appreciate each and every person that has served our country. So for those on this board that are veterans....Thank you very much for protecting the US!!!!!!!! Cat

[Connel]

FYI,
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/r/redfridays.htm

Maybe it will work this time.

[cody]

As a viet nam vet, I, for one, appreciate the comments, after two tours and being wounded twice I was honorably discharged, I landed stateside to ridicule and disdain from what seemed like all sides.  I will be wearing red, not only for the servicemen and women that are serving in the middle east but also for my late father-in-law that served in both korea but also did two tours of viet nam before retiring in 1968 after 28 years in the service and also for my nephew that is in Iraq right now. I sometimes wonder why we're there but I will support and honor the men and women that are there fighting for all of us.

[superpickle]

I can't help but feel just a little hurt because the veterans of the Vietnam era weren't better appreciated.  If you were lucky, you're were simply ignored.  Even as cynical as I am, this story touched me.  What a great thing to share and keep going. Thanks
Dennis

Yup, I took my Drop Dead Gorgous girlfriend to a VFW post for a drink after I returned from Viet Nem, via a long stay in a hospital in Japan in 1970. An old WW2 vet there asked me "What I was doing there"  I said I brought my sweety for a Drink. He said I should LEAVE ! I said, "Im a member of  VFW, Not this post, but another, " He said, "You dont belong here"  I asked Why. "Because you LOST the War"
I told him "Thank you very much, I had forgotten that" and left without a drink.. I never went back to another VFW post !

I was called a "Coward", "Baby Burner", and a John Bercher called me an "The American Chicken".
I am 100% Combat Disabled and it took me 33 years to get it.. I have a purple Heart with cluster from a 3/4 tour in RVN.
Whe  I left the field i was in a Coma, some weeks later when I awoke I had Complete Amnisa, No speech, No memory no nothin.. a Blank tape.. A lot of it came back, i think ?  Any who..
I drove through a Border patrol check point a few months ago, The Boarder Patrol guy looked over my truck and saw my Purple Heart plates.. Asked me if I was a Nam Vet, I said Yes, He Snapped Salute  and said "Thank you for your service"  I heard that so seldom, I almost broke down in tears.. As I am now just thionking of it...
So, I Thank You, for showing  your  appreciation !

Paul..     

D co. 1st Btn  22nd Brg  4th Inf Div.  68 / 69.

[Hi yo silver]

Brojcol, others,
Thank you for your kind remarks.  All I can say is that, although I can't explain it, your appreciation moves me to tears.  Just that small token means more to me than I can express.  Thanks to all of you from all of us.
Dennis