A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-28-03...God Bless the USA ~ Lift Every Voice

Billie | various

[Billie]

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

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and 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....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Lee Greenwood wrote those words in a song in 1983 to bring people together. In the introduction of his booklet entitled "God Bless the USA", which includes a CD of that song, he also wrote:

"I'm sometimes overwhelmed by this vast nation and wish I could see how America will change in the next one hundred years. As long as we continue to dream, create inventions, and solve the challenges of an ever-expanding population, we will have the power to create a better society. But it is inevitable that the freedom, liberty, and can-do attitude that characterize us will be challenged, sometimes in ways that leave us no choice but to defend ourselves and the land we love. It happened in 1941 at Pearl Harbor and again in 2001 at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon."

Through the years countless songs have been written and words spoken that celebrate the breadth of the American experience. Recalling a few, who can dispute the simplicity and beauty of such words as these:

~ from "America", by Samuel Francis Smith ~

"My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring."





~ from "America the Beautiful"
words by Katherine Lee Bates Martin
music by Samuel Ward ~

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control
Thy liberty in law."




~ Martin Luther King's American Dream ~

"I have a dream that one day...the sons of
former slaves and the sons of former slave
owners will be able to sit down together
at the table of brotherhood...I have a dream
that my four little children will one day
live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin but by
the content of their character."




~ from Alistair Cooke ~

"It has always been cited as an irrepressible
symptom of America's vitality that her people,
in fair times and foul, believe in themselves
and their institutions."





~ from "The People, Yes", by Carl Sandburg ~

"The free man is willing to pay and struggle and die
for the freedom for himself and others
Knowing how far to subject himself to discipline
and obedience for the sake of an ordered society....
This free man is a rare bird and when you meet
him take a good look at him and try to figure him
out because some day when the United States of
this earth gets going and runs smooth and pretty
there will be more of him than we have now."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-27-03 Military Monday

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 a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[Billie]

Two of my favorite wav sites have shut down recently. Don't know why.

I remembered one of your favorites several months ago shut down, but then they were back again (Delta something, wasn't it?) - was this one of them again?

[DollyCali]

Yuk, yuk..

off to bike before it rains.

[Mustang]

Thank you Billie for your kind words and prayers.

FReeper friends are the best.

[Billie]

I loved reading that story - had not seen it before. Since I'm the one who begged and pleaded for a flagpole (as opposed to the bracket on our house, which we used to have), it's been up to me to see that the flag is raised every morning and taken down every evening, and I'm very careful to go out and get it down if the weather turns dark. ONCE I forgot and left it out all night. When I saw it waving the next morning, I felt so guilty I'd forgotten it the night before. That kind of stuff bothers me - so this story got to me, too, Donaeus.

[Calpernia]

LOL!

[Billie]

We've had many FRiends who've needed our prayers lately, and FReepers always come through and come together, don't they? I am so sorry to hear your news.

[Diver Dave]

Afternoon, Billie.

Another terrific thread you've presented. Makes me want to wake up and salute the flag. :)

Gleened the following from a web site maintained by a cousin in Alabama. It was written last week...

Major Kevin Whitney, stationed in Iraq has been e-mailing letters from the front to his wife and brother which they have been sharing with us. They have given all of us who read them a close look at life for a soldier in a war zone. Kevin is a doctor. On october 22th he wrote about his feelings as the medical team awaited incoming ambulances with massive injuries. The first one to arrive had a young man who lost both arms as the tire he was changing on a helecopter exploded. The medics had already done a good job stemming the flow of blood. Soon blood was tranfusing and the patient was stable. Until the surgeon took over there was nothing they could do except talk to him and comfort him.

The second ambulance arrived closed. One of the other doctors pronounced him dead.

The next morning we read in the Mobile paper that the dead soldier,Paul Bueche was from Daphne. He was only 19 years old. he joined the Alabama National guard right out of High School. His sister is also serving. On Oct. 13th he had E-mailed his parents that he had won a lottery to receive a two-week trip back home in December. But he didn't accept the coveted prize, he gave it to an older soldier who had kids to return home to. Paul said,"A father needs to be with his kids. It's the right thing to do."

Today Dars E-mailed a message saying that his body was being brought back to Pensacola and that they would have an escort along Highway 98, which runs right by our subdivision, to Daphne and that we should all go out and line the highway as they passed. I would never have known if she had not told us and I don't think many knew. The body was to arrive at 3:30. At 4:30 I went to the highway and sure enough I saw the flashing lights in Foley. I stood all alone by the side of the road and waved my flag as the squad cars, hearse, Army escort and the news truck went by. I'm sure the people of Daphne were better informed and honored this very wonderful young man. I still have tears in my eyes.

It makes the baseball games seem very insignificant. Pray for peace.

Salute to Paul Bueche - May God bless and comfort his family for the ultimate sacrifice.

[Billie]

I stood all alone by the side of the road and waved my flag as the squad cars, hearse, Army escort and the news truck went by. I'm sure the people of Daphne were better informed and honored this very wonderful young man. I still have tears in my eyes.

And now I have tears in MY eyes. But what a show of patriotism and honor to the young soldier it was.

[Donaeus]

touching story.. thank you Don.. One we all need to think of frequently.

[Donaeus]

Right now my sister and I have an apartment so we don't have a yard to hang a flag in. I know that when I have a house I will be the one taking care of the flag but I don't mind. Although I know she loves this country, I do get frustrated with how dispassionate she seems to be.

[dutchess]

Hi Donaeus....I haven't been around much since I first welcomed you to this site last week. So glad you are becoming a part of this very special thread. Today's thread was especially beautiful and touching...Billie has great talent and has taught the rest of us "hostesses" and finest regulars so much.

Hope to see you often and prayers being sent for your friend. He's close to the surgical hour about now???

[dutchess]

Salute to Paul Bueche - May God bless and comfort his family for the ultimate sacrifice

Dave...what a very touching story. Prayers for his soul and for his family and loved ones.

[Donaeus]

Thank you for sharing Paul's story. We no doubt truly lost a great one in him, his quality and character are something we should all aspire to. I wish I could have stood with you on that day. My heart, tears and prayers go out to those he left behind.

Lord, please comfort the Bueche family as only you can. May Your tender mercies be upon them. Amen

[dutchess]

Oh Mustang....many prayers for your wife. Several years ago my aunt was diagnosed with cancer...was at Mayo and all sorts of places. Finally ended up getting treatment at Moffit Cancer Center...I believe near Tampa. They are very progressive, proactive and she survived many years when the prognosis was only several months. Please take care of yourself also. You're wife needs your strength.

[dutchess]

Hi Cal...Glad to finally stop in and say hi. I might be working on your "kitties" this weekend. Will you be around?

[jwfiv]

Good afternoon, Billie Red White and Blue...a beautiful thread you stitched together for us today....very inspiring...kinda goosebumpy and moving, too.

America is indeed a beautiful dream...one come true.

Thank the Lord we have a President willing to fight for our dream of Freedom....willing to stand up and protect our Lady Liberty.

Regards to all FRiends and neighbors...)))

[dutchess]

Hi Gail. Ear infection???? Yuck! Loved your story about the farmraised soldierette! LOL!!!!

[dutchess]

Use Q-tip. if travelling, vodka will do. I am sure other "high test" alcohols will do but somehow the scent of gin or scotch out of ones ears is not the most impreesive scent!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!! BTW...still haven't heard what you thought of tall stacks. Is it worth the visit?

[dutchess]

HI Aeronaut. I didn't get a chance to post to you on Friday...but LOVED all your fantasy flights! How very cool!

[dutchess]

These liberals and commies have got to be stopped! I'm praying hard for a Bush/Cheney victory next November. Along with Republican victories in ALL states in ALL offices.

I couldn't have said it any better. DITTOS!!!!

(((((((PIPPIN)))))))