Perhaps Don Cherry - hockey personality and ardent supporter of Canada's military - said it best.
"You guys wanted red; you got red," the broadcaster, himself sporting a maroon velvet suit, told an estimated 1,000 people who dressed up for yesterday's Red Friday Rally at the CNE as a show of support for Canada's soldiers.
Hundreds of people signed a "support our troops" banner and cheered loudly as a photo of the crowd was taken to be sent to the soldiers on Canada's military mission to Afghanistan.
Simone Konieczny, who drove from Hockley Valley with her mother, father, brother and niece - all clad in red - said it was important to support soldiers' efforts, even if some Canadians don't approve of the war.
"We don't have any contact with soldiers so this is the only way to say 'You exist' and 'Thank you for what you do.' "
Among the dignitaries in attendance was Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, who delighted the crowd before his speech when he removed the top of his camouflage suit to reveal a bright red T-shirt underneath.
"From the soldiers' perspective, we do not believe a group of people who will whip women for wearing heels that click on pavement should be allowed to reassume control of their country and the lives of those people in it," Gen. Hillier said in an interview.
Joining him was Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and former mayor Mel Lastman.
Also on stage were two soldiers wounded in Afghanistan, Master Corporal Jody Mitic and Private Mike McTeague.
MCpl. Mitic had to have both his legs amputated just below his knees after he stepped on an anti-personnel mine last January. In September of 2006, a suicide bomber on a bicycle killed four Canadian soldiers and left Pte. McTeague with broken bones, internal injuries and burns.
"You can't say it's time to go just because guys are getting hurt and killed," MCpl. Mitic said, adding that dying to change a generation of people is a sacrifice all soldiers are willing to make.
Mr. MacKay made his speech in a red golf shirt. "We're doing this mission because Canadians care and they care about the people of Afghanistan ... being able to one day enjoy the things that we sometimes take for granted in our country," he said.
During the afternoon event, a military band played the song I Will Survive.
Deadly improvised bombs were responsible for the deaths of 22 of the 25 soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 2007.
On Wednesday, Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier and Master Corporal Christian Duchesne were travelling in a light-armoured vehicle when it struck a mine buried in the earth. It was just after a victorious battle, and the Afghan-Canadian convoy was travelling up Gundy Ghar, a large hill 15 kilometres west of Canadian bases at Masum Ghar and Patrol Base Wilson.
Gen. Hillier said an area can never be "completely cleared" of the devices.
"Perhaps a route was cleared and maybe they were a little bit off it," Gen. Hillier said, adding that an analysis will provide additional details of the incident, which raised the Canadian soldiers' death toll in Afghanistan to 69 since 2002.