A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-27-05....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 12-23 thru 26-05... T.G.I.F. at the Finest

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

[The Mayor]

Thank you Meg, what a great thread!

[The Mayor]

Merry Christmas to you and of course Happy New Year!

[The Mayor]

What an Emotional picture that is!

Thank you!

[snugs]

What is so great about those 2 shops is that they are modern thriving businesses not retro curiosity shops. The bakers in particular they supply many of the other shops in Ashford with cakes and sandwiches plus even cater food for business meetings. My company use them every Monday for their lunch time meeting, it is very convenient 2 people just walk across the road and collect 2 platters of sandwiches and cakes. The sandwiches made with freshly baked soft bread with lovely crisp crusts and of course homemade cakes. I am also fortunate that the bakers backs onto our back garden if you go up there about midnight to 2.00am you can smell the bread proving proving.

The little shop in the town centre has quality sweets (candy) but also caters for the everyday chocolate bar eaters, you can be an exclusive box of chocs or just a simple bar or Cadbury's Dairy Milk. A great shop with a great history, at one time their was 2 shops but they closed one down a few years ago but kept the older one.

[MEG33]

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/ItisPeke/VDay.html

..."You will watch the backs of the men next to you as they will watch yours,
no matter the color, or by what name they call God..."

* * *


***THE MANSIONS OF THE LORD***
from the movie "We Were Soldiers"

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
While through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

---

Some gave all

[MEG33]

Misty screen thank you for the picture.

[LadyX]

How very lovely it is of you to share with us your traditions and descriptions of your surroundings, Eleanor!
I love bakeries, and from your text can almost experience the wafting odors, and 'see' the display cases in it and the confectioner shop.

The history of Boxing Day was especially interesting to me.
"Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It falls on December 26th, which is also St. Stephen's Day.
Stephen was the first Christian to be martyred for his faith, and he met his death by stoning. Acts 7 v 54 - 60."

'There is also a popular Christmas Carol that refers to this day.
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel."

==============================================

This evokes memories of the Christmas season when I was 10, and my very first piano recital, playing this song as a duet with my teacher, Mrs. Peyraud..:))
Incidentally, my first child is named Stephen, and he bears it well....

[LadyX]

In response to the posting of the Prayer Prompt List, for those who might have missed my update the other day on my grandson (27, and my first grandchild of 8) in the Air Force, he went from Colorado to Korea, and is now in Germany.
Like so many men, he is a continent apart from his little boy in Alabama (who will be 5 in March), and in need of prayers for the lonely....

You are lifted up to our Lord daily, B.J., as are all our miitary around the world.

Love,
Grandmama

[Aquamarine]

Good afternoon Mayor, thanks for posting the Military thread.

Lots of things to do today, putting up Christmas decorations and trying to get things back to normal. What a fiasco! lol

[Billie]

Lots of things to do today, putting up Christmas decorations and trying to get things back to normal. What a fiasco! lol

Sigh! Way more fun getting it out and putting it up than taking it down and putting it all away. :(

Morning, all! Happy two days after Christmas and five days before New Year's Day.

Thank you to our Military! Thank you to our Leaders! God Bless the USA!

[Dubya]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2005) -- Most children grow up playing with trucks and tanks, but few of them have the chance to ever experience riding the “Iron Horse.”

Thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Marines of 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, that experience came alive for six-year-old Brandon Rasnick of Lehigh Acres, Fla.

Brandon, who was promoted to the rank of sergeant by his fellow Marines, has cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disorder. Since his one wish was train with Marines and to “save the world,” the Marines of 2nd Tanks arranged a tank display and ride for Brandon.

Sgt. Ricardo Fernandez Jr., a tank commander with C Company, instructed Brandon on the M-1A1 Abrams Battle Tank and took him on the ride of his life.

“It was great doing something like that for him,” said the San Antonio native. “For us, riding in a tank is not that big of a deal, but seeing the excitement and amazement in his eyes made me realize how important and special it is to some people.”

Before taking off on the ride, Brandon got the opportunity to look around the inside and outside of the tank. He learned about where the rounds go to fire the main gun. He was able to look through the sights of the mounted guns, and he learned the basic functions of the tank.

“It was so awesome teaching him about the tank,” said Fernandez, a 2002 John Jay High School graduate. “Seeing the look on his face when I told him certain things about the tank was great.”

The 22-year-old father of two explained what it was like for him driving Brandon around the base.

“He was a little cold, but he was so excited to be riding in a tank,” he said. “When we were crossing the road, he said to me, ‘All clear tank commander!’ I could tell he was having an awesome time.”

Spending the morning with Brandon and giving him the experience of the “Iron Horse” put a different light on life for Fernandez.

“Just seeing this six-year-old fighting through this sickness was amazing,” he said. “It’s tougher than anything we’ll have to do. He’s definitely a warrior and for me it put a different perspective on life. It makes you appreciate everything you take for granted.”

This morning was one that Brandon or his fellow Marines will not soon forget.

“I’m glad I got a chance to be a part of this,” Fernandez said. “This experience made me feel special, and I will never forget this.”

[Dubya]

Tank battalion grants 'wish' for 6-year-old

Submitted by: 2nd Marine Division

Story Identification #: 20051220133518

Story by Lance Cpl. Lucian Friel

[dutchess]

God Bless Our Military Men and Women and their Families

[snugs]

I love bakeries too. If I am abroad on holiday I always love to find local bakery it is the best way to try real local food.

If you like cakes made from seat yeast recipes 2 of their specialties are Chelsea Buns or Belgian Buns. Both are huge and are soft and moist inside but with lovely crispy surface, made fresh each morning.

[luvie]

[click on picture]

Run to the Sounds of the Guns
~~~by Texas Songwriter~~~
aka Jeff Russell

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

[snugs]

I do not know if all on the finest are aware but the British Prime Minister visited Iraq just before the Christmas holidays.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair (C) disembarks from a helicopter after arriving at Basra airport in Iraq.

Prime Minister Tony Blair meets British troops based in Shaibah Logistic Base, Basra, Iraq, December 22, 2005

[lonestar]

chocolate bar eaters

Eat one for me!

I like your dog.

I love England--particularly the countryside. I learned to enjoy baked tomatoes in England.

[La Enchiladita]

I was looking through your photo gallery of veterans, and caught the one of COB1 in uniform... missing him this first Christmas he's gone from us...

[luvie]

I admire how your Prime Minister has supported us all throughout this war on terror...and supports and believes in his troops like GW does.

[La Enchiladita]

God bless our troops, yes, and God be with their families back home. As Gen. Peter Pace said, the families back home sacrifice and serve every bit as much as those in uniform in harm's way. Oo-rah, General!