A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-12-05....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.

TOP: Repubmommy's brother, Rose in RoseBear's uncle, BoxerBlues' son Chris, BoxerBlues' son Brent.
BOTTOM: Rose in RoseBear's cousin's hubby, Deadhead's stepdad, Dansy's dad, Misty's brother.

LEFT: Little Pig; TOP: hattend, Old Sarge, Aquamarine's dad.
MIDDLE: HuntsvilleTxVeteran.
BOTTOM: Its_me_K.E.T.'s son, Veloxherc, SeeRushToldU_So.




                     

06-28-05 HALL OF FAME #12

THE WEEKEND THREAD 12-9-10-11-05... T.G.I.F. at the Finest

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[lysie]

Dolly, I'm so sorry. Words fail me.

[snugs]

So sorry Dolly Oliver was a wonderful friend to you. God Bless you in your time of sorrow. Thank God that he sent you Toby he will ease your pain and sense of loss.

[GailA]

Good morning every one.

[lonestar]

What can I say? You know we're sorry and you have our prayers and sympathy.

lonestar

Oliver is thankful for the wonderful home you gave him. I'll take good care of him.

Oliver wants you to grieve for him --because it's normal and good for you. Then, when you're ready, he wants you to get a puppy.

Weinie

[prairiebreeze]

((((((((Dolly)))))))

I'm so very sorry to read this. I know you'll miss him tremendously, and I also know he now sits at The Master's knee.

[The Mayor]

DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, so I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, but I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, and I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light, then he sighed and he said "It’s really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, that separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.”

“My Gramps died at 'Pearl’ on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers. My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,'and now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while, but my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.” Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, the red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone, away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another, or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, to ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?" It seems all too little for all that you've done, for being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, to stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled,is payment enough, and with that we will trust, that we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!

[The Mayor]

I am so sorry Dolly. God Bless my FRiend.

[FreeTheHostages]

[The Mayor]

Hi Free, and Thank you.

[Billie]

I just got here a few minutes ago and read your email, and now I see this, and am hurting inside for your loss, Dolly.

I loved lonestar's post to you - weinie will take very good care of Oliver.

Tomorrow's thread with Luv's and Mrs. N's pretty Christmas tables will continue through Wednesday.

You know we are thinking of you and wish there was a way to help get you through the pain and sorrow.

[luvie]

Yes....whatever we can do to ease your pain, Dolly!

[Billie]

Prayers for our military and our leaders. With gratitude to all who have served and who now serve.

[Pippin]

Good Morning everybody!

This is not something I like to rant about on a thread dedicated to the troops, especially the ones who are daily placing thier lives at risk for our freedoms and our way of life.

They don't deserve the outrage of seeing our Flag being treatede as GARBAGE!

I'll tell you what I mean.

This morning I was on my way to work when I saw in a "torpedo" trash can placed near the entrance to the building I live in, AN AMERICAN FLAG!!!!!!

needless to say I was OUTRAGED at this.

If it were ragged and torn all to pieces (which there's a proper way to dispose of a worn out flag). I would kind of understand.

But this flag was like new!

I don't know nor do I care why it was treated as trash, but I "rescued" it and put it in a planted tree in the lobby of my building and am praying it will still be there when I get back home from work so I can take it upo to my apartment and treat it with the respect it deserves.

After all, there are and have been men and women who have sacrificed all for the country it represents. As well as the ones who are now in Iraq and Afghanistan risking thier lives. I think trashing the flag is the same as trashing the United States.

This is an insult and very offensive to me and I'm sure to our troops and all who hold this country and it's flag dear.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Hi Mayor and all.

Here is a link to a lot of photos from the WWE tour in Afghanistan. Every year Vince McMahon brings wrestling to the troops for the holidays.

The link opens Tour photos 1. there is a side menu to get to more albums from this year's tour and past tours in Iraq.

I hope you all enjoy the photos of our heroes.

http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/tribute/1751064/

[Darksheare]

Coolbeans.
I wasn't aware of that, thanks!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I believe this is year #3.

[PaulaB]

Thanks for the ping my friends

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

You're welcome.

[Kitty Mittens]

(((((((Dolly)))))))

[Aquamarine]

Oh (((Dolly))) this is such a huge loss for you. Oliver was a special dog and will be missed.