Many units across the country participate in R.E.D. Friday. The tradition stands for “Remember Everyone Deployed,” a weekly reminder that freedom is not free and that many of our brothers and sisters are still away from home protecting our way of life.
 
Auxiliary members nationwide actively wear red every Friday — until all troops come home. 
 
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 259 members in Maryland proudly wear red to recognize and honor the men and women who serve our nation.
 
Unit 259 incorporates R.E.D. Friday into its ongoing mission of service. Whether it’s through community drives, veterans’ support programs, or youth outreach, members ensure military families know they have a network of support here at home.
 
“We are heavily involved in our community, and we are close to Andrews Air Force Base, and have a really good relationship with the readiness center there,” said Unit 259 member and First Vice President LaTia Jones. “When we are out and about, we try to educate the community about R.E.D. Friday. We definitely made it an initiative.”
 
The unit works hard to help new members understand the significance of wearing red on Fridays, as well as educate community members who attend bingo on Fridays who regularly see members in red shirts. 
 
“We definitely try to encourage everyone to wear the red shirts on Fridays and we give them a poppy and special recognition and thank them,” Jones said. 
 
It means a lot to the unit to participate in R.E.D. Friday and bring positive attention to those who are still deployed. The unit has a few members who are active duty, as well as dual members of the ALA and The American Legion, so members try to do what they can to remember those deployed.
 
“We do a lot of things together as one team — we honor those who are deployed and we remember them,” she said. “We are a big American Legion Family and have been doing things together.” 
 
For something seemingly small, wearing a red shirt on a Friday can make such a big impact to our servicemembers who are still deployed and help remind them that they are supported by the Auxiliary and The American Legion Family as a whole. 
 
“To me, branding is everything and I believe it makes a big impact because we can tell people about a lot of things, but when people see unity and they see the shirts and see us in the community and know we are with the ALA, it creates a conversation,” Jones said. “Others can identify with that, even if they aren’t able to be in the Auxiliary. They may have a cousin or relative who is deployed and they can identify with that.” 
 
Are you wearing red on Fridays? Be sure to share on your social media to help spread the word in our communities.