[BITList] Off Topic - How Other Countries Do It.

[John Feltham]

How some countries do it.


Sent to me by a retired Indian Air Force officer.

There is a PowerPoint slide show attached to this msg. Don't forget to  
watch it.


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Last week, while traveling to  Toronto on business, I noticed an army  
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 Afganistan, I'm taking  
him home to his family.'

The realisation of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to  
the gut. It was an honour 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  Toronto , 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 Canadian Armed Forces 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 a Canadian.

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? Canadians 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 Canadians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to  
recognize that the vast majority of Canadians 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 Canadian who supports our men and women afar, will wear  
something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make  Canada on every Friday a  
sea of red much like a homecoming Hockey 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  Canada 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.



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Lest We Forget