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FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE WOMAN WITH THE ROSE ~ 05 February 2012
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 02/04/2012 5:12:14 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska


 


 

 

 

THE WOMAN WITH THE ROSE


John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City.

He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding.

Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel."

So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened:

A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl.

A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat.. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"

The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. "Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "And I will tell you who you are.



 

 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chaplain; military; sunday; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...


THE NAVY HYMN

Eternal Father, Strong to Save



The Marine Corps Verse:

Eternal Father, grant we pray
To all Marines both night and day,
The Courage, Honor, Strength and Skill
Their Land to serve, Thy Law Fulfill.
Be Thou the Shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps!


This is the day which the LORD hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalms 118:24(KJV)



Have a Blessed Lord’s Day!









Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

81 posted on 02/05/2012 11:03:53 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Thank you for the ping and one of my favorite songs.


82 posted on 02/05/2012 11:07:20 AM PST by Diver Dave (Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

#1 Daughter is back home from her 3rd rescue now.

Nate is ro;;ing over now from back to front & front to back. Crawling is next. More smiles and even laughs when he does it.

George the dog takes his toys over to N?ate trying to get him to play. lol


83 posted on 02/05/2012 11:43:27 AM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: SandRat

#1 Daughter is back home from her 3rd rescue now.

Nate is rolling over now from back to front & front to back. Crawling is next. More smiles and even laughs when he does it.

George the dog takes his toys over to Nate trying to get him to play. lol


84 posted on 02/05/2012 11:45:43 AM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; AZamericonnie; HiJinx; Colonel_Flagg; BIGLOOK; ...




Providence~Amazing Grace.wma

Glad~Before the Throne Of God Above

Cathedrals~Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Glad~Arise My Soul, Arise

Gaither Homecoming~Heaven's Joy Awaits.wma

Tad Robinson~No More Night

The Imperials~Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Have a blessed Sunday


85 posted on 02/05/2012 12:12:46 PM PST by luvie (Unleash the American People!!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...


SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!



The King’s Singers

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Deep River

Steal Away to Jesus

Please let me know by Freepmail if you want to get on or off my music pinglist








Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

86 posted on 02/05/2012 12:25:16 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: LUV W

Good afternoon LUV and (((HUGS))). It’s a cool 52 and windy here. We had light showers just as I was coming home from church.


87 posted on 02/05/2012 12:28:49 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (Dear God, thanks for the rain, but please let it rain more in Texas. Amen.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...


SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!



The King’s Singers

William Byrd – Laudibus in Sanctis

William Byrd - Sing Joyfully

Thomas Tallis – Te Lucis Ante Terminum

Please let me know by Freepmail if you want to get on or off my music pinglist








Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

88 posted on 02/05/2012 12:29:15 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: LUV W

Sunday Music Bump.


89 posted on 02/05/2012 12:51:00 PM PST by E.G.C. (Edward's Soft Rock Playlist: On Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=A7A56731DE671E6A)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Howdy, Arrow! (((hugs)))

Great you had showers! We are just quite chilly and the wind cuts through you! Brr. I guess it’s still winter after all. LOL!


90 posted on 02/05/2012 12:54:41 PM PST by luvie (Unleash the American People!!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; mylife; TASMANIANRED; HiJinx; BIGLOOK; Old Sarge; NYTexan; oldteen; ...

Hope you all had a blessed and peaceful Lords Day.
Love to all and to our Troops!

91 posted on 02/05/2012 3:28:18 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
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To: E.G.C.

Good Lord’s Day, E...((HUGS))...you and Bo have a great Sunday.

We’ve been having lots of snow. Had our roof shoveled off yesterday...more than 2 feet. What a mess!


92 posted on 02/05/2012 5:26:19 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: SandRat

Still trying to catch up....

George the dog and Nate are gonna be best friends, and even bester friends when Nate starts to get around. Mom and Dad are gonna be busy. LOL!


93 posted on 02/11/2012 12:27:39 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: All
Click the pic for ….

Hall of Heroes: LTG William Gerald (Jerry) Boykin



NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

94 posted on 02/11/2012 12:34:07 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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