A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day...... May 12 & 13 -08....Military Tribute

Billie, The Mayor

[The Mayor]

[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...............2 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 visualops.................Son, 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 oneolcop.....................son ItsForTheChildren........2 nephews SoldierDad....son, nephew, neice, cousin OhioWfan................................son marsh2............nephew lilycicero.......husband DCBryan1........Active Duty

ladtx..................................2 sons 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 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 USMCWife6869...........Husband AgThorn & Lily4Jesus......son jackv...............................Son Anne of DC.......niece's husband GulfWar1Vet...........two cousins TINA KIRBY...................Son dwhole2th ......................Son TADSLOS......................Son Katydidnt...................son Trooprally .................. son Edgewood Pilot...son, 2 nephews Diver Dave............cousin 007girl...................nephew arbee4bush .............daughter PERKY2004..........husband NotJustAnotherPrettyFace---nephew o_zarkman44..son,stepson,nephew USAFSecurityForces.....ActiveDuty Bushman2...........Son GodBlessUSA......son DeLaine....daughter in law Kalee....brother,son-in-law Enough_Deceit........son xJones..............son Freedom Dignity n Honor .....son

[xJones]

Good evening, Mayor, and bump to this thread. I’ve always enjoyed your posts.

[Dubya]

U.S. soldier makes helping legless Iraqi girl his mission BAGHDAD — Staff Sgt. Luis Falcon, 38, was patrolling the streets of Baqouba, north of Baghdad, when he saw Shahad Abbas. The 11-year-old girl was in a large decrepit wheelchair, and the stumps of her legs where her calves should have been were crusted with dried blood. snip In a war that Falcon no longer really understood, Shahad became his mission. So when she asked for legs, that became his mission, too. On Friday his dream and hers came true, just three weeks before he's scheduled to leave Iraq. Shahad was fitted with prosthetic limbs in a U.S. military-funded clinic in Baghdad that normally provides artificial limbs for wounded members of the Iraqi security forces. PICTURE REST OF THE STORY

[The Mayor]

Thank you and Thanks for the kind words.

[The Mayor]

Thank you Dub!

[Dubya]

Flying Tigers hold what could be last reunion
The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — Alumni of the Flying Tigers, the famed volunteer force of U.S. pilots who fought in China at the start of World War II, had what could be one of the last reunions for the group as its numbers continue to dwindle.

The 300 Flying Tigers who made up Army Gen. Claire Chennault’s storied group of pilots are down to 19. Just eight of those made it to a reunion in San Antonio on Friday.

“We’re the last of the Mohicans,” said Chuck Baisden, 88, of Savannah, Ga., the second-youngest Flying Tiger alumnus alive.

“That’s the way it is. You come and you go.”

The Flying Tigers’ official name was the American Volunteer Group.

The unit was formed with the financial backing of the Chinese government to help defend Chinese cities from Japanese attack before the United States entered World War II.

The unit was credited with destroying 296 Japanese aircraft in seven months.

The pilots flew Curtiss P-40 fighters, racking up a 15-to-1 kill ratio and probably helping stop the Japanese from conquering China and threatening British-held India.
http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/635461.html

[Diver Dave]

Falling in for muster, Mayor.

Salute and prayers to our Armed Forces - Past and Present.

[MEG33]

Welcome Home Grandson
AE3rdClass~HSL 37~Easy Riders

~~~
(May 2, 2008)PEARL HARBOR~ The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) makes her way pier side to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment as part of the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group supporting the global war on terrorism. ~~~
Welcome HomeUSS Port Royal And
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37

HSL 37~Easy Riders
Hopper,Port Royal Return to Pearl Harbor

[MEG33]

~Welcome Home Daddy~
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (May 2, 2008) A Sailor assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) hugs his children on the pier after the ship moors at Naval Station Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment
~

[DollyCali]

It is nice to see that a few still got together but the reality of this situation is very sad. Thanking these men for their service to our great country.

[DollyCali]

The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

As John Steinbeck once said:

1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.

2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

3. I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy.

4. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.

5. A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him “Why do you carry a 45?” The Ranger responded, “Because they don’t make a .46.”

6. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.

7. The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. “Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?” “No Ma’am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.”

8. Beware the man who only has one gun. HE PROBABLY KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!!

But wait, there’s more!

I was once asked by a lady visiting if I had a gun in the house. I said I did. She said “Well I certainly hope it isn’t loaded!” To which I said, of course it is loaded, can’t work without bullets!” She then asked, “Are you that afraid of some one evil coming into your house?” My reply was, “No not at all. I am not afraid of the house catching fire either, but I have fire extinguishers around, and they are all loaded too.” To which I’ll add, having a gun in the house that isn’t loaded is like having a car in the garage without gas in the tank.

I’m a firm believer of the 2nd Amendment!

[The Mayor]

May 12, 2008

A Child’s Wonder

ODB RADIO: Listen Now |  Download
READ: Psalm 78:1-8

That they may arise and declare [God’s law] to their children, that they may set their hope in God. —Psalm 78:6-7

In 19th-century Scotland, a young mother observed her 3-year-old son’s inquisitive nature. It seemed he was curious about everything that moved or made a noise. James Clerk Maxwell would carry his boyhood wonder with him into a remarkable career in science. He went on to do groundbreaking work in electricity and magnetism. Years later, Albert Einstein would say of Maxwell’s work that it was “the most fruitful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton.”

From early childhood, religion touched all aspects of Maxwell’s life. As a committed Christian, he prayed: “Teach us to study the works of Thy hands . . . and strengthen our reason for Thy service.” The boyhood cultivation of Maxwell’s spiritual life and curiosity resulted in a lifetime of using science in service to the Creator.

The community of faith has always had the responsibility to nurture the talent of the younger generation and to orient their lives to the Lord, “that they may arise and declare [God’s law] to their children, that they may set their hope in God” (Ps. 78:6-7).

Finding ways to encourage children’s love for learning while establishing them in the faith is an important investment in the future.

Our children are a gift from God
On loan from heaven above,
To train and nourish in the Lord,
And show to them His love. —Sper

We shape tomorrow’s world by what we teach our children today.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 10–12; Proverbs 15:1-11

[The Mayor]

Good Monday morning to you Dave.

[The Mayor]

WOW! Great news...! Beautiful ship.
Thank you Meg.

[The Mayor]

Excellent Dolly, Thank you!

[MEG33]

Thank you, Mayor.
He actually flew into Pearl on a SH60B Helicopter assigned to the Port Royal...(no pictures of that homecoming could be found)..He is still far awy but is at least in the US.

[The Mayor]

He’s on home turf and that alone is comforting for you and all of us Meg.

[AZamericonnie]

Welcome home to your Grandson Meg & to the USS Port Royal And Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37. Thank you for your service!

[La Enchiladita]

Big, patriotic ((((Hugs)))) for MEG’s Grandson: Welcome Home, Sailor, we are Proud of you:)