Hoosier_Daddy
12-19-2009, 12:14 AM
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 through 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 American, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of Americans 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.
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 through 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 American, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of Americans 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.