A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-19-04....Military Monday

Billie, The Mayor

[The Mayor]

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.   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 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 could no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I had been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that didn'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 we've created a place for just that. This is a friendly room in JimRob's house where FReeper FRiends can gather every day and just say hello if that's all they want to do.

There's more of course. We sometimes feature different FReepers, with a little background information on who they are and what makes them who they are, along with a few photos you might not have seen on other threads; sometimes others write an essay for us to post as the feature for the day; sometimes our presentation is a human interest story found elsewhere that you might not have read; sometimes special holiday threads; but whatever the topic of the day, it is always with FR's Finest in mind and that is YOU!

If you would like to be featured, or would like to see someone else featured, please send me a private FR mail.

Every Monday we will post the photos of FR's Military Personnel that I have collected and put into groups; these will be available to view through a link the remainder of the week - every day just a click away. :)   If you would like to add a photo of yourself or a loved one in the military, past or present, please let me know; I will hold it until I have enough for a new group.

Thank you, and please have fun with us...every day! ~ Billie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank You For Serving Our Country!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

TOP: Mo1's dad; BuffyT's Uncle (right, w/ her dad & grandmother); Armymarinemom's 3 sons.
MIDDLE: ru4Liberty's dad; SheLion's husband, MaineRebel; wirestripper.
BOTTOM: fivetoes; bigghurtt; hurricane; ladtx' dad; Pippin's brother.




                     

THE WEEKEND THREAD 01-17-18-04 Week in Review

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.

[The Thin Man]

A good 'Military Monday' to you Mr. Mayor and a big 'thank you' to all those pictured for serving our nation so well.

[knighthawk]

No snow, just cold here, brrrrrrrr

[Aquamarine]

Good Military Monday greetings to you all!

Hope everyone has a productive day. :)

[LadyX]

My pleasure, dutchess, and it's great to be retired and able to drop by often.

I do remember well how difficult it was to be a 'working women,' juggling that and home and hearth, and having little free time.

We so appreciate the efforts of our hostesses and hosts and contributors, whether frequent or just now and then, for making The Finest the wonderful gathering place it is...

[jwfiv]

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, thanks for opening the doors, and sharing the Word.

Good morning and hello to all the Finest.

I wake up to a California dreamin' Monday Monday, the sky is gray, the pave is wet and shiney from a light and refreshing rain....makes me lazy.

Thank you, LadyX, for the majestic mountains which greet me...so beautiful...)))

Hmmm...if'n I remember right, today is the Iowa raucus ruckus caucus...wonder if John Effing Kerry, who served in Vietnam, will win , place or show.

Don't matter...it's been such a joy watching Coward Dean's head explode the past couple of weeks...and, whichever miscreant dwarf gets the nod, Marshall Dubya will toss his sorry butt out the swinging doors of Long Branch Saloon this November.

May the loving Almighty God bless and protect our troops, our President, our Nation, and all the Finest.

Wishing you all a very good day.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for bringing us Military Monday, Mayor, and for that exchange Between Senators John Glenn and Sen. Howard Metzenbaum. I have it copied into an e-mail to send out to friends and family.

Ladtx, you have every reason to be proud of your son, we are proud of him too! What a wonderful homecoming this will be!

LadyX, thank you for these wonderful images and articles you are posting today.

Don't know if anyone else had planned to post the military prayer today, but I made this graphic a while back and have updated it to include all those who have requested prayers for their loved ones. I will go ahead and post it because I think it ties in well with today's thread.

A warm hug for all of our FRiends in the great frozen north.

Good Monday morning to you all!

Lord Jesus, Savior of the World and King of Peace, watch over our sons and daughters in the service of their country. Keep them close to You, and give them courage to serve their country with honor and dignity. Be with them when they are in danger; strengthen them when they face hardships. Above all Lord, grant that when their service is finished they may return to us, sound in mind, body and soul. And Lord, for those who give the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for serving our country, please touch and minister grace and healing to their families. Amen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dansangel; Dutchess, Aquamarine or deadhead and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

[Dubya]

Good post. I am passing it on.

[Dubya]

These are great pictures. Thanks for posting them.

[LadyX]

There was a whole series to match every phrase, but the others were far too many bytes to post.

Found them HERE !!

[The Mayor]

I'm glad you all liked the e-mail, I found it very interesting how out of touch our politicans can be.
Beleive me, Glenn wasn't one of my favorite senators either, but, he makes a great point here..

Thanks to my Father for sending that to me.
He's one of the lucky ones living in Florida..

[LadyX]

Meant to add that from that first picture, look underneath and click on: "Return to America the Beautiful Series page."

You then will find all the others in the series.

[The Mayor]

Just took this pic out my window. Looks like Buffalo..

[Dubya]

Recollection of a Gravel-Clutcher

So you have pain now; but I will see you again,
and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

John 16:22

I don't think much about the World War II now, even though this year marks the passage of over 50 years since it ended. I'm just comforted to know I had some wee small part in its outcome.

Sometimes events of the past are either reduced to insignificance by people born after them, or enlarged beyond recognition by nostalgic reminiscences. Still, every once in a while, I can hear again that cry in the woods high on a ridge overlooking the town of Hitchenback in the Ruhr Valley.

Our unit had marched all day and was looking forward to some rest when the order came down: we would soon take part in our first large-scale night attack. We were to wait in the woods above the village while our artillery and air support dropped high explosives on the targeted town. Then we were to attack and take over the town.

Toward evening, we took our places. At first, the whining sound of shells passing overhead was largely ignored. But gradually the shells came closer to the tops of the pine trees where we waited, until there was only a split second between the whining sound and the explosion.

Then there was no interval at all, and we were under the worst kind of friendly fire: huge shell bursts that spewed down jagged shreds of steel in sweeping arcs of ,destruction. Nobody was standing or sitting now: it was time to dig a hole in the ground and hide. At the base of a 'large tree, I pawed at the ground, sending pine needles flying. The explosions overhead got so intense that individual bursts merged into an ear-splitting roll of deadly thunder. And I prayed: Oh, God, please, please make 'em stop. Please God. .

Then, very suddenly, there was a terrible silence. It was over, but no one spoke, and bodies rose up like ghosts ':from a graveyard. Finally, calls were heard from different parts of the hillside: Medic, over here! Hurry! Help, Medic!

It was then that I heard, through the scattered calls for help, the one cry that has remained with me all these ,years. The voice was that of PFC Marks, a rifleman in the \.3rd Platoon. Like many of us in the 86th, Walter Marks had been slated to go to college when the war interrupted. I remember him as a smiling person with the impish look of a boy always on the verge of pulling off a great practical joke.

His voice traveled through the woods with a special resonance that overrode the cries for help and sounds of battle.

. One word, spoken once. "Mother!"

Curious, I thought. The voice lacked the unmistakable sound of pain, nor did it hold any hint of desperation or even sorrow. It was more like a greeting.

When we were finally marching down to take the town, I chanced to see our company medic.

"Did you see Marks back there?" "Yeah."

"Wounded?"

"No, killed."

"But I heard him call out"

"So did I, but I don't know how." And on we went to do our duty.

If I had known Marks better, I thought, I would try to find his mother when this was over and tell her she was the last thing in her son's heart when he died. But I hadn't even known his first name, and as often happened, I was unable to continue to deal with death consciously-I blocked out the details in all but my worst nightmares.

Some of our old Company K buddies recently got together to celebrate the golden anniversary of our survival. One of them had been a close friend of Marks'. I asked him about our fallen friend's last moments, and if he'd heard that call. He had.

"He must have seen his mother in his mind's eye and called out to her," I suggested.

"You know, I've often wondered about that," the friend replied, "because Walter never knew his mother. He had never even seen her."

"How's that?"

"She died in childbirth when she brought him into this world."

[LadyX]

Where in Florida is your father living, Rus?

[The Mayor]

This is what I have been working on. Custom Cabinet doors for a friend.

The big Arch doors will have glass installed in them.

I Love woodworking, next step is finish sanding, stain, and Polyurethane. I have already built the cabinets.

[The Mayor]

Ocala, where ever that is..

[LadyX]

How deeply touching, Dubya....thank you for this glimpse of Our Blessed Assurance.

[Donaeus]

Good morning Finest! With all these warm thoughts and good news I know nobody out there is cold!!

Maggie, thank you for the wonderful news about the 101st coming home. I know that is bringing relief to many families, loved ones, friends and troops alike. Also thanks so much for the photos of our men and women hard at peacekeeping duties.

I talked to my niece Saturday evening and she said that Joey is doing fine over in North Korea. Thank you to everyone who continues to remember him in their prayers.

Heavenly Father, thank you for our days of peace and prosperity for we know every blessing comes from You. Thank you for the valiant soldiers who selflessly serve and willingly sacrifice to keep peace and our sacred freedom. Keep them foremost in Your care and never let us forget or take for granted what is being done on our behalf. Please watch over them and bring success to their efforts to end evil and terror in our world. Help them to look to You for guidance because You are their source of strength. Comfort our soldiers' families and give them the determination to overcome the challenges they face with their loved one overseas. Let us weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Father, may we all look to You to direct our lives and our nation because You are the true wellspring of peace and freedom. Amen.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH!

[Kudsman]

Remarkable. Our Lady of the Assumption comes to my mind when reading that testimony. Thanks for your service and presence.

[deadhead]

Good day, Mayor :-) Nice to have Military Monday here at the Finest, a place where we can honor our Military, past and present. Thank You and Bless each and everyone who has served our great country.