A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-16-04...The Holy Grail of the Marine

Billie

[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, deadhead ~

I first posted this at the Canteen in January 2002, having received it from a FReeper and active U.S. Marine (now retired). Thanks, g'nad, for sharing this with us then, and hope you'll enjoy it with us again today.

---

The young Marine was weary
And he sought a little rest.
With his helmet for a pillow
And his rifle on his chest.
He had seen the gunships fire.
He had heard the cannons roar.
He had seen the Navy's power
As he made his way ashore.
Then he thought about his rifle
And he found it rather small.
With the gunships and the cannons,
It was nothing much at all.
The efforts of a rifleman
Meant little, it would seem.
Then, as he slipped to slumber,
He dreamed himself a dream.

---

The man who stood beside him
Held a musket in his hand,
And close around his neck he wore
A heavy leather band.
"When I was an Old Ironsides"
The apparition said,
"There were cannonballs and cutlasses
Wherever danger led.
There were pistols too, and daggers
At every fighter's side,
When the ships would come together
On the rolling, heaving tide.
But when it came to boarding,
With the battle fury hot,
It was rifles, always rifles
That made the telling shot."

---

When we were in the trenches
The apparition faded
And standing in its place
Beneath a shallow helmet
He saw another face.
"When we were in the trenches
In the Wood they call Marine,
There were mortars, tanks, and cannons,
More than I had ever seen.
But when the final charge was made
To push the Germans back
It was rifles, always rifles
At the point of the attack."

---

Who fought and fell at Wake
The face changed only slightly.
And the helmet stayed the same,
But the island that he spoke of
Had a more familiar name.
"They hit us very early
On the day the war begun.
On the wings of all their bombers
We could see the Rising Sun.
Our pilots and our gunners
Who fought and fell at Wake
Wrote a story full of glory
That time can never shake.
But when the enemy drew near,
To make his final reach,
It was rifles, always rifles
That met him on the beach."

---

In 'Fifty at the Chosin,
There next appeared a shadow
In a swirl of stinging snow,
And it breathed a fierce defiance,
And its eyes were all aglow.
In 'Fifty at the Chosin,
When the big guns couldn't talk,
And the First Marine Divison
Took a fighting, freezing walk,
When all the world, except the Corps
Had counted us as gone,
It was rifles, always rifles,
That let us carry on."

---

At Khe Sahn when they shelled us,
The scene was changed to summer.
And the face was hard and lean,
And the tired eyes were fired
With the light that says "Marine".
"At Khe Sahn when they shelled us,
We were wrapped in rolling smoke,
And the thought of our survival
Was a grim and ghastly joke.
But when the waves came swarming in
To finish the assault,
It was rifles, always rifles
That called the final halt."

---

There next appeared a general
As solid as a tank,
With three stars on his collar
To signify his rank.
His stature and demeanor
Were the military type,
And in his hand he carried
A stubby little pipe.
His jaw was squarely chiseled;
His eyes were clear and keen,
And his bearing left no question..
He was all Marine's Marine.
"The message they're conveying,"
The burly General said,
"Is that through our troubled history,
The rifles always led.
We've had cannons, tanks, and mortars;
We've had weapons by the score;
We've had battleships and fighter planes
To complement the Corps."

---

"We've a most impressive arsenal--
That's obviously true--
But the final thrust for victory
Has always been with you.
It was rifles, always rifles,
When the Corps was sorely pressed,
And the rifle that you carry
Must meet the final test.
So sling that rifle proudly,
For everything we do
With mortars, tanks, and cannons
Is just an aid to you."

The young Marine awakened
And put the dream aside,
Though now he clutched his rifle
With a certain touch of pride.
And then he chanced to notice
That lying near his hand
Was a stubby little pipe
And a heavy leather band.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-12-04 Military Monday 01-13-04 Celebrate Living 01-14-04 Freepercize 2004 01-15-04 JohnHuang2 Essay

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.

[dutchess]

What a great post Billie. Simply beautiful and the poem...very touching...Make me think of and take pride in all our marines including my dear father. Thanks...and thank you gnad for your service to our country!

[dutchess]

Maggie...what an absolutely stunning picture!

[dutchess]

I guess I just want to be like you and the rest and have a hand injury. It seems all the fad.

I chipped a finger nail...does that count?????

Love todays calendar Freezie!

[LadyX]

This is the Iwo Jima Monument at Parris Island,
funded entirely by Marines.
The sculptor created this one as his model
for the one he made for display in Washington, D.C.

It was dedicated in 1952, and it was my privilege
to be Guidon Bearer, carrying the American Flag,
out front of the eight full companies that comprised the Parade.

In April of 2002, I returned for a Globe & Anchor ceremony
for a graduating platoon,
and this picture was taken of me, 50 years after the dedication...

(And yes, dansy, I do my Freepercises, weighing now 10 pounds less than above.
You badgered us, inspired me and made me buckle down..:))

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' to FR's Finest...

Another cold foggy day in the Big Valley. Perhaps I'll gather up some wood and fart a stire oops! start a fire in the old fireplace.
In the meantime, another cup of coffee to get the day going.

Nice tribute to the Marines. I can hear the Marine Hymn playing in my head - much better than the voices. :)

[dansangel]

(((((Billie)))))) and (((((g'nad))))))

What a wonderful tribute, not only to the Marines, but to all of our wonderful Military Members.

May God hold our troops in His loving hands and protect them the way that they protect us with their selfless acts. Bless their families and hold them close during their separation from their loved ones. We ask this in name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Billie - *love* the hostess graphic!

[dutchess]

Hi knighthawk. Sending some cyber hot chocolat your way to warm you up!

[dutchess]

Hi Meekie...gosh I have to get used to your new addy! And thanks again for sending me the link to the Bono picture the other day. Always know that I can count on you!

[dutchess]

The hostess graphic is awesome too although I look a little lonesome. LOL

I'll fly over and visit you dear sistah! :)

[dutchess]

Hi Julie...I'm anxious to hear what Katherine Harris decides...sure hope she goes for the senate. From what I hear she would stand a great chance!

[MeekOneGOP]

I've had a couple of folks tell me that regarding my screen name.

You're welcomed regarding the pic. When you mentioned that Bono-O'Neill pic, PhilDragoo immediately came to mind because he'd posted it quite a bit. So it was easy to find that pic going to his 'In Forum' link on his profile page.

[dutchess]

I'm so glad I found this

WE'RE GLAD you found US! Have a wonderful day!

[LadyX]

"I chipped a finger nail...does that count?????"

Certainly!!!
LOL

(TMan - you did declare this is "Be kind to The Dutchess Day," didn't you?)

[dutchess]

....start a fire in the old fireplace.

Oh...that sounds nice about now!

[Billie]

Good morning, Julie - be sure and give us a first-hand report about Katherine's decision. Any idea which way she's leaning?

[dutchess]

(TMan - you did declare this is "Be kind to The Dutchess Day," didn't you?)

LOL! That sounds kind of nice!

[Billie]

Hi, Meekie - I like your name change. :)

[The Mayor]

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.

A lie is a coward's attempt to get out of trouble.

[The Mayor]

January 16, 2004

Nothing But The Truth

Read: Proverbs 12:17-22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. —Proverbs 12:22

Bible In One Year: Genesis 39-40; Matthew 11

---

Years ago I read some unusual and humorous explanations for auto accidents. The following are just a few that people submitted to an insurance company:

"I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had the accident."

"I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment."

"The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him."

"The telephone pole was approaching fast. I attempted to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end."

"The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him."

"The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth."

These "excuses" may bring a smile, and some were probably meant to. But they also remind us of how prone we are to shade the facts, especially when it works to our advantage. The book of Proverbs tells us that "lying lips are an abomination to the Lord" (12:22).

So let's be careful at all times to speak the truth—and nothing but the truth! —Richard De Haan

Deceit at first may have its sweets,
But these are brief, decaying,
So speak the truth as God directs,
For all your words He's weighing! —Bosch

A lie is a coward's attempt to get out of trouble.

[dutchess]

(((((((dansy))))))))

I've played enough and must get back to work! Again, beautiful thread billie. See you all later!