Understanding the Global Footprint and Homecoming
Across the globe, thousands of United States military personnel serve overseas. They carry out critical defense and peacekeeping operations every single day. From the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific, our service members stand watch far from home so we stay safe.
Soon, many of these heroes will return home from deployment. When they get back, they face a major life transition. Reintegrating into civilian life takes time, patience, and strong community backing. While homecomings bring immense joy, the invisible impacts of deployment remain. Because of this, support from local communities matters more than ever.
What Does R.E.D. Friday Mean?
R.E.D. Friday stands for Remember Everyone Deployed. It is a powerful grassroots movement. People across the nation wear red on Fridays to show their support for troops serving outside U.S. borders.
The symbols carry deep meaning:
- Remember Everyone Deployed: This ensures that out of sight never means out of mind.
- The Color Red: This represents courage, sacrifice, and the blood shed to protect our freedom.
For a service member far away from family, seeing this movement brings comfort. It shows them that people back home truly value their sacrifice.
The Heartbeat of Support: Blue Star Families
Behind every deployed soldier stands a network of resilient loved ones. Groups like Blue Star Families help bridge this gap. This nationwide network provides vital resources, connection, and community programs.
When a parent or spouse deploys, families face tough emotional hurdles. Support networks ensure that these military families never feel alone in their journey.
How You Can Participate
- Wear Red on Fridays: Put on a red shirt or ribbon every week to show your solidarity.
- Support Local Families: Reach out to spouses and children of deployed members to offer practical help.
- Spread Awareness: Use your voice to teach others about the true meaning of R.E.D. Friday.
Understanding the Global Footprint and Homecoming
Across the globe, thousands of United States military personnel remain stationed overseas, executing critical peacekeeping, deterrence, and defense operations. From complex strategic deployments in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific to joint multinational exercises, our service members stand watch far from home.
For those recently returning from deployment, the transition back brings a unique set of adjustments. Reintegrating into civilian or domestic base life requires immense patience, understanding, and robust community backing. While the homecoming reunion is a moment of profound joy, the silent echoes of deployment remain—making the unwavering support of families and local communities more crucial than ever.
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.