FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Every Member of The Military ~ Past, Present, Future ~ Nov 19 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[luvie]

Wow! That is gonna make quite a feast! :)

[ConorMacNessa]

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 gold 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 other’s 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 gold 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 Finding The Narrative Of “The Empty Chair.”

Robert Schumann – “Traumerei”
(Click)

Never Forget The Brave Men And Women Who Gave Their Lives To Secure Our Freedom!!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem 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)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Connie, and thanks for the Tribute to Our Troops.

Hope you had a nice weekend, with a bit of time to relax. *hugs* Is your bronchitis all gone?

I am off to work in the morning. The short week means Monday will be intense, and checks have to be cut at 2p on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.

Are you having Thanksgiving festivities at your house? I decided to get a little butterball boneless turkey breast, so we will have a mini traditional meal.

[Kathy in Alaska]

That turkey weighs as much as a small kid. Good thing you had John Man to carry it for you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks to you, mountainlion....one of our heroes!!

[ConorMacNessa]

We have always had great Thanksgiving feasts in my family - usually with extended family on hand. When my Father was still alive he used to invite his students - who came from around the world and did not have previous exposure to Thanksgiving.

One year we had one of his students from Africa - a young gent with tribal scars on his cheeks. I spoke of him many years later in my eulogy at my Father's funeral. It turns out he was in the congregation and came up and spoke to me after the Mass.



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem 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)

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!


TATTOO
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Must retire – the 0500 Reveille approaches relentlessly.

The Bugler, his grim visage replete with an evil sneer, already mounts the parapet.

Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes!



All Gave Some – Some Gave All!!!
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Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem 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)

[luvie]

God bless all our Canteen heroes! Thanks, Kathy for always reminding us of their service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac...you are one of our heroes!

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well. Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present.
Thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, MountainDad...we thank you for being one of our heroes.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, meika, and thanks for helping thank our heroes.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for our Star Spangled Banner’s 4th verse.....

[AZamericonnie]

Hi Kathy, the yuckies continue as it moved to the sinuses.

I look like Rudolph’s twin sister!:)

Nothing that won’t pass but wish it to do so sooner rather than later! LOL

I am making a big pot of stock for Thanksgiving & I’ve found that the more often I go & stick my head over the pot & steam...well it sure helps!

Pleeeeease don’t overdo it tomorrow!

Good idea on the turkey breast I considered the same as I’m the only one who will eat the dark meat.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))...hope you’ve had a restful weekend. Any muggings?

We thank you for being one of our heroes.

[PERKY2004]

Hi Hi Hi Hi!

Just popping in for a quick hello. My wonderful DH is still deployed to Afghanistan, and I'm still holding down the fort at home and counting the days until he returns.

[Kathy in Alaska]

HI Hi back...how are you Perky? Kitties? ((HUGS))

We thank your hubby for being one of our heroes.

[PERKY2004]

Thanks for the warm greeting ~ I'm doing fine, actually. I've been working on some home improvement projects while he's been overseas ... removing wallpaper, painting, rearranging furniture (things like that!) I also keep very busy volunteering nearly full-time for a local no-kill, no-cage cat rescue and sanctuary (Facebook, fundraising, adoptions) ... and must say that spending Saturdays cuddling furry kittens is wonderful therapy! (smile)

At home, we lost two kitties this year (our two oldest ... brother and sister ... Daniel and Gracie) to illness, and that's always hard (and sad) ... but the remaining seven are all fine and dandy. As the weather cools off, they get even friendlier!(Grin) Of course, "cool" for us is relative, of course.... we're still in the 70s and I'm still wearing shorts.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv....we get hawks fairly often (I think because we have ducks), but eagles not too often. I think there might be too many tree branches for their HUGE wing span.

Altho I didn’t get to see the one today, I have seen several in the past. Stunning!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

The dark meat is the best!!! Hmmm....I might have to get a turkey leg just for me. LOL!

That steam stuff is supposed to be really good for you....keep stirring!

Hope you are shed of the yuckies soon.