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.

[Aquamarine]

Sweat dreams Dutchess. See ya tomorrow. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

Dang. Get well soon, St. Louie ! ...

[MEG33]

I congratulate your daughter,Holly.Thank her for serving my country!

[SpookBrat]

I'm sorry I didn't email you any sooner. I got your email this morning but couldn't write back right away. ((((much love))))

[SpookBrat]

Thank you for the pretty thread today. I wish I could remember the year, but I'm guessing it was 1984 or 1985 (probably 84), I saw Lee Greenwood at the mall in Washington for a 4th of July celebration. I remember it rained a little that night and the subway was packed. Seeing fireworks at the Washington Monument was a wonderful experience.

[LadyX]

WOW - no, DOUBLE WOW !!

In e-mail just this evening from a friend, I received a perfect finale to this thread !!

Link to ON A ROCK IN RURAL IOWA

The link is to this URL: http://www.ticz.com/homes/users/bob/On-A-Rock/On-A-Rock.htm

It is a large natural rock, painted on all four sides and signed by someone named Ray "Bubba" Sorenson II, and is a beautiful tribute to those who served in the military.

The pictures were a bit too large to bring here, and I think you'll love his sense of patriotism!

[The Mayor]

I've gotten that twice, isn't it Great!!

[HiJinx]

Ok, there's got to be a way to tie that rock in with the Iowa Caucuses!

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for the Louie updates, Billie.
If'n it was a flat tire, he could buy a new one at Goodyear.
But this "flat" is gonna require some R&R (Rest and Relaxation as opposed to Rip-Out and Repair).

Get well soon, Louie!

[Diver Dave]

I got a peek at the rock earlier today.
Awesome!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the update, Billie.

Oh Louie, I didn't know you were having so much misery. :-(

Hope you get well soon. We miss ya.

. . . . Get well soon!

[LadyX]

Greetings, Gramps...:))
Hope that little one is doing well.

That rock is truly awesome, and I hope others will look at it.

Sorry it took so long to reply, but my older son in Florida called and we talked nearly an hour - - -

[DollyCali]

OMG......... what a heart wrenching story.. I think .. thanks?

I know what we are doing in IRaq is right. I wish our young people did not have to pay so severly.... the thought of the thousands (is that right) at Walter Reed . .. amputees,disabled.. is so painful to me.

do I SPEAK WITH FORKED TONGUE?

We all agonize with these thougths I believe.

I wish I could go & do my part.. but too old.. I would rather I go than my 31 year old son with two kids..

the excitement of the victories and the agony of the problems are with us..

God is Good.. and God will give us strength to endure & grow thru our occasional doubts & pain...

[DollyCali]

We all know this Bubba is NOT the "bad bubba".. ala X42; blue dress; didn't inhale guy..

thanks !

*G*

[DollyCali]

It is so important to be where you are directed to go.. God will let you know why eventually.. but follow those intuitive (spiritauL?) urges .. good luck & God speed

[Billie]

Maggie, that rock is amazing - someone sent it to me a week or so ago - it is just awesome, and you're right - it's the perfect finale to today's thread. :)

[DollyCali]

Common Tator & I went to Cinti for Tall Stacks .. my reason was to see fellow cyclist ( a sax performer there) - on the Newport Levi .. Newport & Cinti waterfronts were AWESOME.. the entire experience was great. I live in Cinti 25+ years ago.. & what a metamorphis it was to behold. I am a water person & so almost anything regarding water is an attraction for/to me.

thanks for asking . As it turned out Tator & the musicians had much in common & knew many common folks.. Tat is a professional musician (as well as many other things) - I love to travel & this will be added to one of the good trips tin life

[DollyCali]

Hang a flag on the eaves of the window in your front yard. I have a home but my flag is out 24/7 (prolly a NO-NO to the flag cops) on the outside of my picture window.

One does NOT need a flag poll etc. a few nails or push tacks will do !

[Billie]

Kayak and nic, how wonderful to hear from you both again tonight!

Wanted to say goodnight and thanks to all for making everyday at the Finest a special day.

[HiJinx]

That's okay, Lady Gyrene oops, Marine!

I've been finishing up a batch of chili for the company pot-luck and went on my daily trip to the grocery store (we always need something) and was holding the little darling for awhile, and...

Hmmmm...I'm beginning to see a pattern here. I think it's called life!

I hope yours is treating you well! Your Florida son have good things to say?