This may be a re-post. Sorry if it is.
Later,
Steve
___
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.
Later,
Steve
___
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.
