A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day - Weekend....11-02,03-02

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: 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

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

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.

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

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


10-28-02 "FR's Finest" ...............................................SALVATION
10-29-02 "A FRiend to our Armed Forces" ........PATRICIARUTH
10-30-02 "Happy Birthday, Lodwick!" ......HALLOWEEN PARTY
10-31-02 "John's Two Cents" .................................JOHNHUANG2
"Mondale's No Shoo-in"
11-01-02 "More of America's Finest" ....MILITARY VETERANS






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]

The coffee's on, make yourself at home. We are glad you are here. :-)
Have a great weekend!

If you would like on or off of the Finest Thread ping list, FReepMail me.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[Mama_Bear]

LOL! Well, there you are......the first one here again! When I saw I had a ping, somehow I knew it would be you. :-)

Have a good one, Aeronaut.

[dansangel]

Hi Mama_Bear; everyone!

We're back from a wonderful trip to the shore (St. Simons Island). Can't seem to get my brain back in focus...I keep dreaming about winning the lottery and moving there permanently. LOL!

Got to go run some errands and then it looks like we may do some shooting with Freedom Poster at the rifle range. Haven't firmed up the plans as yet.

Good Morning Aeronaut! It's a lovely day to fly here in GA, although a bit on the nippy side.

Take care....I've missed everyone....be back in a while!

{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}

[ladtx]

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on NOV 2. God bless them all.

1968 WO1 James I. Schlinger -- D/1/4 CAV 1 INF, Age 31, New Bedford, New Jersey
1969 WO1 George W. Grega -- B/7/17 CAV, Age 21, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
1969 WO1 Leo C. Hester Jr. -- 2 BDE 1 CAV, Age 19, Jacksonville, Florida
1969 1LT James F. Spencer -- C/227 AHB 1 CAV, Age 22, Oscoda, Michigan
1969 WO1 Stokkerman -- B/7/1 CAV, Age 40, North Las Vegas, Nevada
1969 WO1 Campbell -- 191 AHC, Age 25, Metairie, Louisiana
1969 CW2 Orrico -- 191 AHC, Age 25, San Jose, California
1972 CW2 Rogalla -- 1 AVN BDE, Age 31, El Dorado, Kansas

WO1 Leo C. Hester, Jr (Nov 2, 1969) died in Vietnam, eight months after his father, LCDR Leo C. Hester, Sr (Mar 10, 1969) at the time of their deaths, their wife/mother Christine Hester lived in Pensacola, Fl. their daughter/sister (Geraldine Augustine) lives in Bensalem, PA They are the first father/son on the wall and now they have been joined by the Fitzgibbon family

In honor of the Hesters. "Garry Owen!!"

NOV 3

1967 1LT James E. Pavlicek Jr. -- B/4 AVN 4 INF, Age 25, Hereford, Texas
1967 WO1 David E. Thomas -- B/4 AVN 4 INF, Age 25, Sedalia, Missouri
1969 WO1 Kenneth R. Leach -- B/25 AVN 25 INF, Age 28, Hemet, California

In memory of these 3 pilots who died in 2 different incidents 2 years apart, they all flew the same type of aircraft, the UH-1C. They were all gun-pilots. Gun-pilots saved my bacon more than once. Salute guys.

The Bell Helicopter UH-1C Gunship.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[Mudboy Slim]

Howdy Howdy...I'll be leaf-rakin', lawn-mowin' and fertilizing today, but I look forward to my breaks on FR.com...MUD

[Mama_Bear]

Thank you for what you do here every day, ladtx. Thank you for not letting us forget. I look forward to the days when there are no names to post.

[Mama_Bear]

Howdy howdy to you Mud! Happy rakin' and mowin'. See you on your break. :-)

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', folks ! We made it back to Texas. I'm at Dad's house right now. I'm using his computer, and I don't have any of my graphics and ping lists so my apologies to all. (Jeepers, his AOL vs my AT&T Broadband....I'm crawling again, lol!)

Dad is doing excellent considering the shape his car was in after his accident. It was totalled.

Here's a rundown of how his accident occurred, and his injuries:

He was driving east on I-70 about 100 miles east of Denver, Colorado when he hit some black ice. He lost control and the car veered to the median where he hit a "turnaround" area (where cars can turn around to change direction on the highway). The car hit on the passenger side and rolled probably twice and ended up on the opposing lane of traffic side just beyond the highway shoulder. It landed rightside up, and Dad was able to crawl out the drivers side window (none of the doors would open).

Dad is 71 years old and has a fractured #2 vertebrae in his neck and will wear a neck brace for 8 weeks. His left arm required skin graft surgery, and likely more surgery and P.T. The skin on his left arm was what the doctor called "degloved", meaning peeled off his arm and you could see muscle and tendons. But no major blood arteries or tendons were damaged, so he was very fortunate. He had a puncture in his left leg just above his outside ankle. It was minor, but required about 10 staples and is doing fine and has not bothered him in the least so far. He had a bump on his head from the impact and also appears to have pulled/overextended a muscle in his left shoulder blade. That injury (should blade) has caused him the most discomfort of all his injuries. The doctors have prescribed a muscle relaxer and pain medication to help with that. He's a very lucky man to have been able to literally walk away from this. When the ambulance got there, he had crawled out of the driver's window and walked around a bit. A stranger drove by and stopped. He had a cell phone and called the ambulance for him and put a clean towel around his bleeding arm. He stayed until the ambulance got there. Dad is working through his injuries very well. He's a tough old man, my Dad is. I hope when I'm his age, I'll do as well as he does. Holy cats, I'm only 23 years behind him, lol !

My apologies for ramblin' on here, etc. I'm still a bit worn out from the events of the last 10 days or so. I logged over 2000 miles in the round trip plus driving to the towing place to get Dad's stuff out of the car. When I get the film back from developing, I'll post the pics of the car I took that day.

I want to express my appreciation to all of you for the so nice comments regarding my Dad, the prayers, and everything. My very special thanks to FReeper HiJinx and LadyX. I cannot express in words my sincere appreciation to you both for making contact with my Dad at the hospital. My Dad was very impressed to receive your call, HiJinx and was so pleased and grateful to hear your kind words of concern for him. Likewise to you, LadyX for your ever so sweet e-mail to the hospital. We got your note the day after you sent it to him. Talk about morale boosters! Thanks so much ! :O)

Oh, one more thing. The folks at Swedish Medical Center were so very very kind and caring to my Dad. It is my opinion that SMC is one of the very best hospitals that I have ever seen.

LadyX, your son that used to work at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado must be a very special and talented man. I know you are proud of him. I wish that he could have been there at the time my Dad was in the hospital so we could have met him.

Since I'm going to be with Dad for at least the next few days, I'll likely not be too active on FR. I'll be here until he can get around on his own. So ya'll bear with me until things get normal/semi-normal with us again, ok?

See ya'll later! :O)

[MeekOneGOP]

Oops ! Hey, JH2! Post #10 meant for you as well...

:O)

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Angel! Glad to know you are back, and glad you had a wonderful vacation. Thanks for taking time every so often to log on and send us your special hugs. Here's a special bear hug for you.......(((((((((((dansangel)))))))))))

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks so much for the report, Meek. I was thinking about you yesterday and wondering how your dad was doing. I'm sure many others were concerned too.

Continued prayers for quick healing for your father, and ((((hugs)))) for you, Meek. Thanks and hugs to you too, HiJinx and LadyX, for being there for our FRiend. :-)

[jwfiv]

Hello and good morning to all you sweet hostesses. Your coffee and sunshine are very welcome today...))))))

[Molly Pitcher]

Good morning Mama_Bear, everyone!

Went offline yesterday...oh the stress of being FR deprived!

Have a wonderful weekend!

[Mudboy Slim]

"Bill Clinton"
(To be sung to the Allman Brother Band's "Melissa")

RATS' HO's seem to come and go...yeah!
Left's gypsy flys from coast to coast,
Rapin' many...trusting none!!
Killing children, having fun...
But Right knows Slick's Commie SCUM, Let's Git Bill Clinton!!
Ummmm...Hmmmmmm...

Left stains, DemRATS think Slick's sane...
No one knows Bill Clinton's gay!!
Still, Bubba fears Slim's lonely fight...
There Shall Be Justice 'cuz Slick LIED!!
US FReepers FReep RATS' ChiCom spies...Let's FReep Bill Clinton!!
Uhhhmmmmm...hmmmmmmmm...

{c:Bridge}
Again the morning comes
Again he's on the run
Sunbeam shining through his hair
Care enough to have a care
Pick up your gear and gypsy...Roll on...Roll on!!

Crossroads, will Libs ever let Slick go?!!
Will Left die while Clinton Rolls?!
Will RATS see Slick's feet of clay?!
Wellstone's Spirit stole away!!
But I know that Slick won't stay...We'll git Bill Clinton!!
Yes, I know that Right holds sway...Truth'll git Bill Clinton!!
Oh yeah...ummmmmmmm...
Folks, I know that Slick won't stay, FReepers, GIT Bill Clinton!!!

Work in progress...MUD

[Mama_Bear]

Hi, special person. Thank you for coming by and for the nice words you always bring. Did you know that your sentences are punctuated with smiles?

Have an extraordinarily good weekend. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, Molly. You have a wonderful weekend too.

[Mama_Bear]

I am going to have to leave for awhile. Everyone feel free to wander in and out at your leisure. It's the weekend, relax and enjoy!

[jwfiv]

Thank you for that extra spoonful of sugar for may coffee...)...hmmm, gooooood coffee.

I'm on my way to AZ in a few minutes, to step away from work for a bit, have a quick visit with family, but I'll be Freeping all the way, there and back again, if only in my imagination.

My absentee ballot is on the way, straight GOP, no hanging chads.

Wish I could cast a vote in other states as well...would love to personally say NO to Mondale and Lousenberg.

Wishing you a conservatively excellent and wonderful weekend.