Skip to comments.
FReeper Canteen - Tunes for Our Troops - 19 May 2012
Our Troops Rock!!!!
| The Canteen DJ's
Posted on 05/18/2012 6:04:03 PM PDT by AZamericonnie
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 281-297 next last
To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...
Welcome To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, To Our Veterans, To All Military Families, To Our FRiends and To Our Allies!
Missing Man Setting
The Empty Chair
By Captain Carroll Lex Lefon, USN (ret), on December 21st, 2004
In the wardroom onboard the aircraft carrier from which I recently debarked was a small, round table, with single chair. No one ever sat there, and the reasons, both for the table being there, and for the fact that the chair was always empty, will tell the reader a little bit about who we are as a culture.The wardroom, of course, is where the officers will dine; morning, noon and evening. It is not only a place to eat it is also a kind of oasis from the sometimes dreary, often difficult exigencies of the service. A place of social discourse, of momentary relief from the burdens of the day. The only things explicitly forbidden by inviolable tradition in the wardroom are the wearing of a cover or sword by an officer not actually on watch, or conversation which touches upon politics or religion. But aboard ships which observe the custom, another implicit taboo concerns the empty chair: No matter how crowded the room, no matter who is waiting to be seated, that chair is never moved, never taken.
The table is by the main entrance to the wardroom. You will see it when you enter, and you will see it when you leave. It draws your eyes because it is meant to. And because it draws your eyes it draws your thoughts. And though it will be there every day for as long as you are at sea, you will look at it every time and your eyes will momentarily grow distant as you think for a moment. As you quietly give thanks.
As you remember.
The small, round table is covered with a white linen tablecloth. A single place setting rests there, of fine bone china. A wineglass stands upon the table, inverted, empty. On the dinner plate is a pinch of salt. On the bread plate is a slice of lemon. Besides the plate lies a bible. There is a small vase with a single red rose upon the table. Around the vase is wound a yellow ribbon. There is the empty chair.
We will remember because over the course of our careers, we will have had the opportunity to enjoy many a formal evening of dinner and dancing in the fine company of those with whom we have the honor to serve, and their lovely ladies. And as the night wears on, our faces will in time become flushed with pleasure of each others company, with the exertions on the dance floor, with the effects of our libations. But while the feast is still at its best, order will be called to the room we will be asked to raise our glasses to the empty table, and we will be asked to remember:
The table is round to show our everlasting concern for those who are missing. The single setting reminds us that every one of them went to their fates alone, that every life was unique.
The tablecloth is white symbolizing the purity of their motives when they answered the call to duty.
The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones who kept the faith.
The yellow ribbon around the vase symbolizes our continued determination to remember them.
The slice of lemon reminds us of the bitterness of their fate. The salt symbolizes the tears shed by those who loved them. The bible represents the faith that sustained them. The glass is inverted they cannot share in the toast. The chair is empty they are not here. They are missing.
And we will remember, and we will raise our glasses to those who went before us, and who gave all that they had for us. And a part of the flush in our faces will pale as we remember that nothing worth having ever came without a cost. We will remember that many of our brothers and sisters have paid that cost in blood. We will remember that the reckoning is not over.
We many of us will settle with our families into our holiday season, our Christmas season for those who celebrate it, content in our fortune and prosperity. We will meet old friends with smiles and laughter. We will meet our members of our family with hugs. We will eat well, and exchange gifts and raise our glasses to the year passed in gratitude, and to the year to come with hope. We will sleep the sleep of the protected, secure in our homes, secure in our homeland.
But for many families, there will be an empty chair at the table this year. A place that is not filled.
We should remember.
Thanks To Alfa6 For The Narrative Of The Empty Chair.
Schumann - Traumerei (Click)
Never Forget Those Who Sacrificed All That We Could Live In Freedom!!
|
|
|
|
Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!
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)
41
posted on
05/18/2012 7:05:45 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
To: Cindy
Great lot of vids, Cindy! Thanks for all your hard work! :)
42
posted on
05/18/2012 7:06:00 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: AZamericonnie
I am going home...it has been a zoo this afternoon, and we have all been in crisis mode for the last several hours.
43
posted on
05/18/2012 7:06:54 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; armyavonlady; ...
Acoustic Alchemy~Cherry Hill
Use the links at the top of the thread
to purchase music of the artists.
FReepmail or ping any DJ with your requests.
44
posted on
05/18/2012 7:07:05 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: AZamericonnie; ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska; MS.BEHAVIN; LUV W
45
posted on
05/18/2012 7:09:10 PM PDT
by
Publius
To: MeekMom; 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; ...
Donna Summer~Last Dance
Use the links at the top of the thread
to purchase music of the artists.
FReepmail or ping any DJ with your requests.
46
posted on
05/18/2012 7:15:52 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; armyavonlady; ...
Alex Bugnon~Cascade
Use the links at the top of the thread
to purchase music of the artists.
FReepmail or ping any DJ with your requests.
47
posted on
05/18/2012 7:23:49 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: LUV W
48
posted on
05/18/2012 7:24:51 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: LUV W
49
posted on
05/18/2012 7:24:51 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: LUV W
50
posted on
05/18/2012 7:24:51 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: AZamericonnie; ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska; MS.BEHAVIN; LUV W
The key moment in the career of
Norman Whitfield came in 1964 when Gordy allowed him to work with the Temptations, normally produced by Smokey Robinson. He teamed with Eddie Holland as songwriter and produced it himself.
The Temptations: Girl, Why You Wanna Make Me Blue
51
posted on
05/18/2012 7:25:34 PM PDT
by
Publius
To: left that other site
Howdy! Good to see ya! :)
52
posted on
05/18/2012 7:26:53 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: AZamericonnie
Aloha Connie! ((HUGS))
Somewhat peaceful but hardly productive.....dealing with bureaucrats. I need to get away.
53
posted on
05/18/2012 7:30:18 PM PDT
by
BIGLOOK
To: 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; armyavonlady; ...
54
posted on
05/18/2012 7:30:58 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: LUV W
Aloha West Texas Rose!
Heard the news.....no, not that one, the good news about your son. Congratulate him on Master Sergeant for me. That ain't easy in the Zoomies.
55
posted on
05/18/2012 7:35:36 PM PDT
by
BIGLOOK
To: BIGLOOK
Thank you, Big Guy! I certainly will. It isn’t easy...it has taken a lot of hard work and study, but he did it! :)
56
posted on
05/18/2012 7:37:16 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: 2LT Radix jr; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; armyavonlady; ...
Andy Snitzer~Taking Off
Use the links at the top of the thread
to purchase music of the artists.
FReepmail or ping any DJ with your requests.
57
posted on
05/18/2012 7:38:20 PM PDT
by
luvie
(This space reserved for heroes)
To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...
GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS!
Sir Winston S. Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, Hon. RA (30 November 1874 24 January 1965)
What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands.
But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour.
Coronet Winston S. Churchill, 4th Queen's Own Hussars, 1895
|
|
|
|
Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!
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)
58
posted on
05/18/2012 7:40:11 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
To: AZamericonnie; ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska; MS.BEHAVIN; LUV W
Berry Gordy ran a tough organization. If one producing team went into a slump, he would simply assign another team to a given artist. Smokey Robinson had produced the Temptations through much of 1964 and 1965, and it was
Norman Whitfield who badly wanted to take the reins. How this happened is a story in itself.
In 1966, Eddie Holland wrote the lyrics to Whitfields instrumental track for this song. After recording it with David Ruffin on lead, two meetings of the quality control group failed to approve it. The bottom line: It was too smooth. At the third recording session, Whitfield had Ruffin sing above his vocal range, forcing him to strain to hit the high notes. Said band member Otis Williams: David was drowning in sweat and his glasses were all over his face.
Whitfield was sure he had a winner. Unfortunately, this single and Get Ready, produced by Smokey Robinson with Eddie Kendricks on lead, hit the same quality control meeting. Because Robinson had been designated as the main producer for the group, Get Ready got the nod. Whitfield was absolutely livid, but Gordy promised that this tune would be the next release if Robinsons single didnt perform. Gordy kept his promise.
The Temptations: Aint Too Proud to Beg
The instrumental track had been laid down by Whitfield back in 64, and he and Eddie Holland wrote lyrics for it in 66. The song had been recorded by a number of other Motown acts, but it was the Temptations who got it on a single. Thats David Ruffin on lead.
The Temptations: Beauty is Only Skin Deep
Whitfield was working on a harder sound than Robinson, and he provided a solid example of what he wanted with this single. Ruffin be singin da blues.
The Temptations: Im Losing You
59
posted on
05/18/2012 7:40:33 PM PDT
by
Publius
To: Kathy in Alaska
Travel mercies & hope there is no zoo at home!:)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 281-297 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson