A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-01-04....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, The Mayor, 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 02-27-28-29-04... 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

[The Mayor]

[The Mayor]

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:13

God always gives enough strength for the next step.

[The Mayor]

March 1, 2004

Strength For Today

Read: Philippians 4:8-13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:13

Bible In One Year: Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37

---

Most people own a calendar or an appointment book in which they record details of future commitments. A Christian friend of mine uses one in the opposite way. He doesn't record key activities until after they've taken place.

Here's his approach: Each morning he prays, "Lord, I go forth in Your strength alone. Please use me as You wish." Then, whenever he accomplishes something unusual or difficult, he records it in his diary in the evening.

For example, he may write, "Today I was enabled to share my testimony with a friend." "Today God enabled me to overcome my fear through faith." "Today I was enabled to help and encourage a troubled person."

My friend uses the word enabled because he knows he couldn't do these things without God's help. By recording each "enabling," he is giving God all the glory. Relying constantly on God's strength, he can testify with the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

As you enter each new day, ask God to strengthen and use you. You can be sure that as you look back on your day, you'll praise and glorify the Lord as you realize what He has enabled you to do. —Joanie Yoder

Lord, give me strength for this day's task,
Not for tomorrow would I ask;
At twilight hour, oh, may I say,
"The Lord has been my guide today." —Nillingham

God always gives enough strength for the next step.

---

[MEG33]

I thank God for our veterans who have served our country.May God bless our armed forces and all their loved ones who wait at home.

[The Mayor]

Mornin Meg

[GailA]

Good morning FRiends, had a great weekend camping, temps mild during the day. It's raining this morning here in Memphis.

Coffee's on, and the quilt show about to start.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mr. Mayor.

[MEG33]

Good Morning ,Mayor.Here's hoping our"hunters' in Afghanistan have some luck trapping Al Queda big wigs soon!



......BUSH/CHENEY '04......For Freedom's Sake!.......

[MEG33]

Good Morning, Gail.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday ! Happy Ides of March !

[The Mayor]

Mornin Gail

at least the weather was good for the camping trip.
It's 39 here right now and it's suppose to be in the mid 50's today.

[The Mayor]

Mornin Aeronaut, good to see you..

[The Mayor]

Hiya Meek!

[The Mayor]

(Groton-AP, Feb. 28, 2004 8:00 PM) _ It's homecoming day in Groton.

About 200 soldiers from the 1109th Aviation
Classification Repair Activity Depot returned
home this afternoon to their families.
"It is like a dream that is finally coming true."
It was a long wait for this homecoming and most of the soldiers had not seen their family for over a year.
Signs and flags waved high as family members waited with anticipation for the 1109th to return home.
The crowd waited behind a yellow ribbon, which is the finish line for a year long tour of duty.
There was no measure for the power of an embrace for the soldiers.
"There are no words that can describe how I feel," says Spc. Murray Mowatt.
"I am just elated, I am just so elated. There are no words to express it.
There are no words. I am so thankful he is home, safe and sound," says Dianne Burns.
"There are a lot of mixed emotions. I don't know what to expect when I go back to work,
when ever I decide to do that. Just the joy of being home,
my family is all here. It is incredible ," says Maj. Jeff Burns.
The 1109th specializes in helicopter repair and maintenance.

[The Mayor]

Editor's note: Quincyan Geri Eaton, with help from Georgia Degitz,
wrote about her thoughts as her son was deployed to Iraq and returned home last week.
Homecoming: A mother's story
Fears, tears ... and then joy for Quincyan whose son was deployed in Iraq

Great Story

Excerpt
Flags waving, posters and banners flying, we marched out of the airport.
Emotionally spent and relieved, I lagged behind the group.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man of Asian descent approach.
He reached out and touched me.

In a soft voice, he spoke, "Ma'am, are you the mother of that soldier?"
I replied, "Yes."
He said, "Thank you for this soldier. Because of him, we are free men."
I wanted to cry with pride and relief. Over this man's shoulder,
I saw Ed with his wife beside him, shaking another supporter's hand.
Nothing will ever compare to the pride I felt in my countrymen and son.

[The Mayor]

Cheers, tears greet heroes

170 members of National Guard unit come home to their families.

Susan Ryan of Montville waits with her son, Patrick Ryan, 15, for Shawn Ryan,
her husband and his father, to disembark from the bus at Groton-New London Airport in Groton
Saturday afternoon. Ryan is a member of the 1109th AVCRAD Connecticut National Guard.
The unit returned from debriefing in Fort Drum, N.Y.,
after serving almost a year abroad in Kuwait and Iraq.

Family members wave as buses pull up,
carrying the 1109th AVCRAD unit back home
from Fort Drum to Groton airport Saturday afternoon.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Barclay of South Killingly hugs his son,
Aleksander Barclay, 14, as he returns to Groton Saturday
after serving in Kuwait and Iraq for almost a year.
Taavi Barclay, left, also greets his father.

Nolan Liska, 2, of Voluntown hugs his father, Sgt. James Liska.

[The Mayor]

First Guard troops based in Miami heading home Feb 27, 2004

[Temple Owl]

Good morning everybody. It is a spring-like day in Southeastern Pennsylvania. I'm going out to take advantage of it.

[Calpernia]

Morning, God Bless and Bump!

[LadyX]

What wonderful photographs and stories you've posted!
Will look for more in a moment. In the meantime:

MORNING VIEW — Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs sit on the McChord Air Force Base, Wash.,
flightline during a spectalure sunrise over Mount Rainier.
U.S. Air Force photo by Kevin J. Tosh