From: PNCS(SW) Terry J. Rigg
United States Navy - (Retired)
(Grandpa Terry)


I received the below email this Sunday afternoon and it brought a tear to my eye. That hasn't happened to me in a very long time.

I had decided to make this available to all of my 24,000+ subscribers, most of whom live in the USA. Then something even more sad than this email struck me! I felt I had to check the authenticity through Snopes.com.

What is sad about that is that a 20 year Navy man would have to authenticate something that he absolutely knows happens every day, whether this particular email is true or not. However, I know Crystal, the lady that forwarded it to me, and that's good enough for me!

No, I didn't go through with checking it through Snopes, quite frankly because I don't care. More than 2500 of these situations have happened just to US soldiers, and that's not counting all of the brave soldiers that have died from other countries supporting our efforts in Iraq and elsewhere.

There is absolutely one thing that means more to me than anything else and that is FREEDOM. Many of those that have it take it for granted, those that don't have FREEDOM can only dream about it. However, as we've learned over and over in our 230 year history, it comes at a high price.

These soldiers are paying that high price for us and I for one couldn't appreciate it any more than I do.

I will be wearing red (read the entire page to find out about this) every Friday until our soldiers are home and are out of harms way. It may just be a red ink pen or a red cell phone cover, but it will be there.

Yes, I know how common the color red is and I've seen this mostly smybolic "Red Friday" email before but, even if no one else notices, I will know it's there and why.

All that I can do is ask that you join me to show our troops we care and sincerely appreciate what they are doing for us.

All the best,
Grandpa Terry

P.S. Please read the entire email below. Thanks Crystal....
Hey Terry
I thought you might know some people to fw this along to. I have cousin in Iraq & he and his friends find it comforting to know that we aren't forgetting them. Thanks !
Crystal
 
 
 

Fire Engineer Russell E. Klassn
A Simple  Thank You
 
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.
signed:  Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C.

Also, here are two very touching photos honored at this years International Picture of the Year.  
                               
                                               First Place

        http://www.poyi.org/63/11/02.php

First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.  
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows?  They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines.  You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives.  They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."
                                             Second Place

 

 

        http://www.poyi.org/63/11/03.php

Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."



 
PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!




"No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."
-- Ronald Reagan
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
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
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 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 COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.  
 
IT IS YOUR CHOICE.  
 
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!