A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...4-26,27-03...Week in Review

Billie and Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders; tell a few jokes; learn a new word; write poetry; pray for those in need; and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog.
MIDDLE: Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son.
BOTTOM: JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon.
BOTTOM: Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband
poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son;
BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset);
WVNan's husband; ladtx Aunt Eva.

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

GROUP 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE: T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM: YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

GROUP 2A: TOP: Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE: 4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM: Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP: mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE: Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM: gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP: porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE: RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM: USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

GROUP 5A: TOP: spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE: FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM: usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: TOP: g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett. MIDDLE: fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick, Leroy S Mort, Mark17. BOTTOM: Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

GROUP 7A: TOP: ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam, dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony.BOTTOM: rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang.

GROUP 8A: TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx. MIDDLE: The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law. BOTTOM: deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

To Our FReeper FRiends: We hope you've been having as much fun as we have with our spotlight on various FReepers. We thought we'd kick back on the weekends and simply review those who've been featured during the week. If you missed seeing them and want to say hello to them now, feel free to click on the link to that particular thread. If you'd like to drop in and out of this thread today and tomorrow, please feel free to do that also. One of us will always be around to see the welcome mat is still out, and maybe even put fresh flowers on the table. :)

"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


04-21-03 "Buster - A Nose For Adventure" .........BY BILLIE

04-22-03 "Stormy Weather" ................DAUGHTEROFTGSL

04-23-03 "Up Close and Personal" ...........................CMSGOP

04-24-03 "John's Two Cents" .........................JOHNHUANG2
"Dark Days for the Left"

04-25-03 "Our Flippered Friends" .............BY MAMA_BEAR






Strangers are just friends waiting to happen

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~ Mixer

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

If you would like to be added to or removed from the Finest ping list, FReepMail me.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[Mama_Bear]

Morning, Aqua. I happened to see this link on yesterday's thread that you posted to Julie. I am reposting it here, so others might see it too.

This is great! I knew it was in the works, but since most projects like this take a looooooooong time, I had no idea it would be completed so soon.

"Have you seen this thread? A FReeper made a CD for the Troops out of all the rally pic's that were posted here in March and you can buy one for just 5 bucks. I bought two...one to keep and one to send to the Airman that I write to that's based in Italy right now...also made a small donation. Support Our Troops CD is ready to ship!"

[LadyX]

Good morning, World!!

Somewhere along the Atlntic Ocean this morning
was a scene like this to start our day - -

May your weekend be as lovely and serene - - -

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning. I hope this will be a pleasant, restful weekend for you.....(or a fun, exciting one, whichever you prefer). :-)

[LadyX]

Okay - so I renamed it as "Atlntic Ocean" -
blaming it on lack of Carlsbad Caveman's Industrial Strength Coffee..:>(

[Mama_Bear]

I love the ocean - such a lovely sunrise you've brought us.

I know that every day is a weekend for you, but I hope this one is extra special. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Okay - so I renamed it as "Atlntic Ocean" - blaming it on lack of Carlsbad Caveman's Industrial Strength Coffee..:>(

Yes, and our thread just wasn't the same yesterday, we missed you, Meekie. But I know you have been busy with family matters.

Sending you a (((((((((((hug))))))))))) and looking forward to your return.

[LadyX]

Truly need to share with everyone mail from Trish received yesterday - saved it for the weekend thread....

Rendering the obligatory
TISSUE ALERT

The following was received from a USMC friend and is worthy of your read and forwarding......... It was written by a Marine Capt. on escort duty from St. Louis MO for a young Marine killed in Iraq.

Sir,

As you can see, I have cc'ed a lot of people on this because I wanted to get the word out as quickly as possible. 1stSgt Berg, GySgt Bontkowski and I went to St. Louis International airport tonight to meet the body of Corporal Evan James when he came in on an American Airlines flight. When we found out the time and airline of his arrival, Gunny Bontkowski called the Airport Operations to arrange for us to be on the tarmac to meet the body and put it in the hearse. What happened next would choke up the hardest Marine.

We arrived at the airport and it seemed like every airport cop employed there was around to make sure that we got on the tarmac. The plane pulled up and the casket (in the travel dunnage) came down the ramp and we loaded it into the hearse.

As we left the tarmac with an airport police escort, the gate guards saluted. We then picked up our escorts from the Missouri State Police. We passed by the gate of the Missouri Air National Guard unit and their guards were rendering full honors to our convoy.

The Airport police had blocked off ALL traffic in and out of the airport when we departed. The state troopers were in the lead and in trail.

State troopers had also blocked off I-70 so our convoy would easily get on the highway. The troopers escorted the hearse to Hannibal, MO, where it crossed the state line into Illinois.

At that point, the Illinois State Police took over the escort duties all the way to La Harpe, IL.

The police captain of the airport police arranged all of this.

Gunny Bontkowski is getting names so that we can send them our humble thanks. Is there any way that LtGen McCarthy or Gen Hagee can send something once we get the names of the people in St. Louis that made these honors possible?
They went well out of their way to honor a Marine they did not know from Adam.

Words alone cannot express the pride, humility, and emotions that we felt for Cpl James and the Marine Corps.

Semper Fi, Capt John Bruzza, USMC

Forwarded to me by
Capt Trish Ruf
USMC

[Molly Pitcher]

Good morning everyone.

Checking in briefly here as we're home for a few days in between visits to Mil....

Hope a wonderful weekend is in the works for ya'll!

[LadyX]

Glad to see you, Molly!

Is it warming up in your area?

[firewalk]

Good morning

lazy, rainy morning here

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for posting that link here MB. Know everyone on this thread would be interested in that project.

[Aquamarine]

That one choked me up bad!
God bless em for giving that soldier his due honors.

Loved your pretty sunrise this morning. :)

[LadyX]

We had the rain two days ago - sent it up your way..:))

Much better than the past three dry Springs here - those drought years were ruinous for the farmers, needless to say.

If my orthopedic surgeon agrees Tuesday, I can resume some yard work - and maybe drive again!!
i wanna drive..:>(

[firewalk]

you sent the rain?...thank you (-:
i think that orthopedic surgeon should let you drive again...
Do you think you're able to?

[FreeTheHostages]

For the young at heart:

[LadyX]

Do a chore - refresh thread...:))

Definitely able to drive now, having received a gold star from my rehab guy on the forearm and wrist.

While the frozen shoulder still has some limits in reaching far back, it is coming along nicely - still go twice a week, and now they have some great Nautilus equipment that will accelerate that.

[Temple Owl]

Good morning Mama and all have a nice weekend.