[The Mayor]

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; Dutchess; dollycali;The Mayor; GodBlessUSA; JustAmy, 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.

gator girl........................husband severa.......................... brother Maigrey.........................cousin mystery-ak...........son, husband Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave........niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..........................son weldgophardline.................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.......cousin WaterDragon............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law kimmie7......................brother LadyX (RIP)..............grandson fawn796......................nephew ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady....................nephew Spruce......................daughter Leofl.................................son chena...............................son Hope and Glory..................son TheMayor...............friends'son Doug from Upland.......soninlaw homeschoolmama........nephew ariamne...................2 cousins mhking.........................cousin Consort.................2 daughters Consort...................son-in-law gonzo...................friend's son visualops......................cousin auboy..........................cousin painter........................nephew jrushing.............................son LoneRedRanger...brother-in-law Ladysmith.nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop......brother nelibeli........................nephew Misty4jc.....................husband Colorado Slim..............nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews ProudAFDad......................son Alouette.............................son Katydidnt...........................son Zechariah_8_13....brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.............cousin PreviouslyA-Lurker........brother sheeza.......................husband kemathen7..................husband Q6-God..................twin brother Q6-God....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne..........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut...................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish........................active duty ODC-GIRL................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968................active duty NoLongerFreeState...active duty CMS........................active duty JemiansTerror...........active duty Hoosiersailor...........active duty txradioguy..................active duty tongue-tied. .............active duty vigilante2.....son,& adopted soldier NavySEAL F-16................son Jaxter.....................son-in-law 2ndDivisionVet..........brotherinlaw 2ndDivVet.....former stepdaughter GrandEagle ............... friend-Tim DebWisconsin....................nephew JarhedAirmanPatriot.........brother athelass.......two sons and two nephews DCBryan1................Active Duty

OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son MozartLover...........son, nephew ak_daddoo........................nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son Armymarinemom................3 sons american_ranger.....................son cookcounty.............................son Himyar....................................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin boxerblues........................2 sons the piper..............................son Tiffee4Bob......................boyfriend TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law Skimask.....................................son Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy........2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson Socratic.............................nephew freema.......................nephew, son Azbushgal..............................son kimmykay.................................son NavySEAL F-16........................son Ike..........................................son repubmom...............................son wolfcreek..........................daughter JesseJane ...........................cousin Roses0508..............................son pmmd81..................................son SoldiersPrayingMom.................son WakeUpandVote..................brother Skyraider.................................son CyberAnt...........................nephew mrs tiggywinkle...................cousin Jen's Mom........................daughter Meg33.............................grandson 911angelady........................2 sons Nadine...............................nephew U S Army EOD.................daughter thehumanlynx...........brother-in-law JFC..................................nephew Earthdweller......................nephew Scubachick.......................husband ChairmanDec19thSociety ..brotherinlaw Anthem............................2 cousins meanie monster .........family friend PragmaticWarrior..........2 nephews Sageb1...........................3 cousins JulieRNR21.........friend's grandson SuzyQue...mom,2 sons,3 brothers weeder1...........................nephew IndyPendance..daughter,soninlaw fatima.....................granddaughter Lori from Long Island....soninlaw monkeyface..........two grandsons redhead...................grandnephew varina davis................ ...Grandson Rivendell.......................daughter W.W.Smith...........................son Gonzo........................Son-in-law USMCWife6869...........Husband AgThorn & Lily4Jesus......son jackv...............................Son Anne of DC.......niece's husband GulfWar1Vet...........two cousins TINA KIRBY...................Son TADSLOS......................Son

[Dubya]

Thanks for the thread.

[Dubya]

Oceanside event honors military, their families

By: SCOTT MARSHALL - Staff Writer

OCEANSIDE — Clad in his mask and cape, Batman attended a special event Saturday near the Oceanside Municipal Pier, but it was his father who was among the real heroes being honored.

Batman’s alter ego — 2-year-old Austin Morgan — joined his brother Nathan, 4, and their parents Laura Morgan, 22, and Marine Sgt. Daniel Morgan, 24, at the sixth annual Operation Appreciation, an event to thank the military and their families for their service to their country.

“I love it,” Daniel Morgan said, as his sons enjoyed one of the many free carnival-style rides. “It lets us know people out there actually do care about what we do.”

Launched by the Armed Services YMCA, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and the North County Times, Operation Appreciation included live music at the amphitheater near the pier and free food for military service members and their families. A children’s area offered free rides ranging from an inflatable slide shaped like a wave called “The Tsunami” to dragons on wheels riding in circles called “The Dragon Adventure.”

Tammi Harper, 37, of Carlsbad said she explained to her daughters, Mandy, 5, and Megan, 4, that Saturday’s festivities were “a thank you for Daddy being gone.” Harper’s husband, Lt. Cmdr. Mike Harper, 32, an 11-year Navy veteran, is aboard the USS Nimitz that deployed April 2.

“I think it’s important, especially in the Southern California area,” Tammi Harper said of Saturday’s event. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”

The first sight to grab the attention and interest of Lt. Col. Matt Hess’s two sons were military vehicles parked on the beach near the pier, Hess said.

“My kids are really enjoying climbing around the equipment,” Hess, 37, said.

On the amphitheater stage, flanked by dignitaries including some City Council members from Oceanside and Vista and Marine Corps officials, Mayor Jim Wood said he is proud of what “our neighbors to the north” on Camp Pendleton are doing.

“I can’t think of better people — good neighbors, good friends — than the people we honor every day for what they do for us,” Wood said of the Marines.

Brig. Gen. David Reist of the 1st Marine Logistics Group then told the audience that attending the event was a “special privilege.”

“We couldn’t do our jobs without the support we have from you — friends and family,” Reist said. “We thank you very much, and we look forward to today.”

Last year’s event attracted about 8,000 Marines, sailors and their families. Briana Wagner, event coordinator for the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, said it was hard to tell how Saturday’s crowd compared with those of previous years because the event was spread over a wide area and people were waiting in long lines for food.

“It looks like there are a lot of military and their families, and that is what we focus on,” Wagner said.

— Contact staff writer Scott Marshall at (760) 631-6623 or smarshall@nctimes.com.

[luvie]

[CLICK ON PICTURE]LESS IS MORE
JEFF RUSSELL

[MEG33]

*****
Almighty and eternal God, Protect our soldiers as they discharge their duties. Protect them with the shield of your strength and keep them safe from all evil and harm. May the power of your love enable them to return home safely to the people who love them and to the gratitude of the American people..We ask this through Christ our Lord.

TO OUR VETERANS, THOSE IN
THE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES
*THANK YOU*

[MEG33]

Good Morning To The Finest

Thank You 1st Cavalry Division
For Your Service and Your Sacrifices

Ist Cavalry News....Slideshow