Friday 10 July 2026 0000
Every R.E.D. Friday, a powerful wave of crimson appears across the country. This Wearing red is not about fashion; it is a profound act of solidarity for those who serve.. R.E.D. Friday means Remember Everyone Deployed. At its heart, this movement is a non-political commitment to keep the men and women serving in our Armed Forces in our thoughts, regardless of the complexities of global politics.
The Origins of a Movement
The R.E.D. acronym gained significant traction in 2015, with many tracing the modern iteration to students at Mansfield University. The initiative was created by Cecil Cooper, an Army veteran and student at the university who began wearing red to ensure that deployed service members felt the support and appreciation of their fellow citizens back home. Red symbolizes courage, bravery, and sacrifice. Supporters wear it to create a visual reminder that while many of us go about our daily lives in peace, others stand on the front lines to protect that very freedom. By wearing it, supporters create a visual reminder that while many of us go about our daily lives in peace, others are standing on the front lines to protect that very freedom.
More Than Just a Shirt
For a service member stationed thousands of miles away, the reality of deployment can be one of isolation. TThe R.E.D. Friday movement bridges that gap, reminding these men and women that we have not forgotten them. Our latest veteran resources highlight how community support impacts morale. This community-driven initiative encourages:
- Awareness: Keeping the sacrifice of our troops at the forefront of the public consciousness.
- Morale: We provide soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines with peace of mind that we recognize and value their efforts.
- Connection: Creating a bond between military families and the civilian population, showing that we are one nation behind those who wear the uniform.
Separating the Soldier from the Policy
It is vital to remember that the individuals serving in our military do not set policy. They are there because they love freedom and want to preserve it for generations. You can read more about our mission regarding how we honor these individuals.
When we wear red on Fridays, we do not make a statement about military strategy or politics. Instead, we honor who they are: fellow citizens, sons, daughters, parents, and friends who have answered a call to serve. We are making a statement about who they are: fellow citizens, sons, daughters, parents, and friends who have answered a call to serve.
How You Can Participate
Joining the movement is as simple as adding a red shirt to your wardrobe on Fridays. Whether you are at home, at work, or out in the community, that splash of red acts as a beacon of support. You can connect with local organizations that provide resources for military families. By participating, you ensure that every deployed service member knows that we remember, respect, and appreciate them deeply.
I am not a veteran. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. But in 1991, personal loss brought me to a place I never left.
Over two decades later, that loss led me to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut, where I took on the coordination of Wreaths Across America — which grew into the largest and fastest growing veterans program in the state. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for them.
In 2016 I founded the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin. Not because I served, but because I believe those who did deserve to be honored, connected, and kept alive.
Twenty-two veterans die by suicide every day. I knew about that number before it became a hashtag. I knew it personally, long before anyone was talking about it.
This publication exists because that number is unacceptable. Because every veteran in Connecticut deserves to know someone gives a damn.
That someone is me.
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