Employees of United Wholesale Lumber in Visalia, Calif. are participating in a grassroots expression of support for U.S. troops.

They have joined other Americans who are wearing an article of red clothing on Friday to show support for U.S. troops.

United has nearly three dozen employees. They have begun wearing red shirts at work on Friday. The shirts have the company name and logo on the front. On the back is the lettering, ‘Proudly Supporting Our Troops’ with the logo of United and its parent company, Fruit Growers Supply Co.

United heard about the red shirt grassroots movement from an e-mail it received. The movement has been endorsed by military support groups.

United, which manufactures 1.5 million new pallets and markets over .5 million reconditioned pallets annually, also sports a red, white and blue banner on the front of its office building that reads, ‘Proudly Supporting Our Troops.’ It has been hanging from the building since shortly after terrorists attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.

Tom Thayer, president and general manager of United, served in the U.S. Army Special Forces in Viet Nam and recalls that the lack of support at home during the Viet Nam war was tough on U.S. troops.

"We can never allow that to happen in this country again," said Tom.

Incidentally, Tom also keeps a red, white and blue lighted cross in front of his home since Sept. 11.

The banner at United and the cross in front of his home will stay "until the war on terror is complete," Tom added.

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