[Publius]

Sergei Rachmaninov plays “The Star Spangled Banner”

[ConorMacNessa]

REQUEST PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD



CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (Jan. 14, 2008) The first major snowfall of the New Year blankets the USS Constitution. Despite the weather "Old Ironsides," remained open for free public tours. At 210 years-old, USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, manned by 67 active-duty United States Sailors and visited by nearly half a million visitors annually. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric Brown (Released)

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!!!





Boston, Oct. 21, 2009 - Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Philip Gagnon pipes as USS Constitution performs an underway demonstration in honor of the three-masted wooden frigate's 212th birthday. (U.S. Navy photo by Airman Mark Alexander/Released).
(Click for Bosun’s Whistle)



USS Constitution's 1812 Marine Guard fire vintage Springfield flintlock muskets during the ship's underway. "Old Ironsides" was underway for the "Constitution Day Cruise," which is conducted to thank the family and supporters of Constitution. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Nick Lyman (Released)

OUR TROOPS ROCK!!!!!!!

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

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)

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

One Silent Night
December 24, 2013

Read: Luke 2:1-14

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. —Luke 2:10

Bible in a Year:
Habakkuk 1-3; Revelation 15

Simon had emigrated from the Netherlands to the United States. His wife, Kay, and all three of their children had been born in the US. Then Jenny married Roberto from Panama. Bill married Vania from Portugal. And Lucas married Bora from South Korea.

On Christmas Eve, as the family gathered for a celebration, they began singing “Silent Night” in their native tongues—a sweet sound indeed for the Lord of the earth to hear as they celebrated the birth of His Son.

Two thousand years ago, the silence of a quiet night ended abruptly when an angel told the shepherds a baby had been born: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10). Then a multitude of angels began praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (v.14). Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world, was born!

God’s gracious gift, His Son, which was announced on that long-ago silent night, is still available to everyone—“every tribe and nation” (Titus 2:11-14; Rev. 5:9-10). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Silent night! holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia—
Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born! —Mohr

Heaven’s choir came down to sing when heaven’s King came down to save.

[SandRat]

Great Post

[Swede Girl]

Ft. Rucker, Alabama was the best place I ever lived.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[PROCON]

Woo-Hoo, thanks Ma for tonight's thread!

I had the great honor of serving with some great Fort Rucker trained Army pilots 40 + years ago,

They're the best, saved my life on more than one occassion, God Bless them!

[AZamericonnie]

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

Brad Fletcher - To All Our Mothers Children

Due South - The Good Guys

Perry Nunley - When Freedom Rings

FReeper musical artists. Let me know if you have a submission.

[2111USMC]

Here!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Families, for your service to our country.

Thanks, unique, for the perfect woohoo.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of tonight’s Road Trip is laurenmarlowe.
She is working hard.

~ Road Trip: Fort Rucker, Alabama ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies’ military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS

CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

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

[luvie]

thanks, Galz for yet another wonderful road trip, this time
to the southland!

[silentreignofheroes]

Merry Christmas Kathy,,,Retired out of there a few years back.Worked on the ATC Sim and the UH1 Sims . Great place to finish.The Museum is a good spot to visit . Seen this happen:
3 short videos of Gen McAuthurs Plane taking off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reIp09IeH2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4xzU7zvqbk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHqKtK8mC84

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy. Happy Holidays.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hey Gang,
Fervent prayers are needed for Mainely Dawns daughter Ashley.
She has been severely burned by a gas grill explosion.
She lives in San Antonio.

She is 29 years old and has several small children.
Please, please lift her in healing prayer.
Please post them to Mainely Dawn,
Thanks everyone!
Ms.B

[MEG33]

With Deep Gratitude
Christmas Blessings To Our Armed Forces, Our Veterans
And Their Families

Please Click.."A Soldier's Christmas" by Michael Marks

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
***
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
***
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
***
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
***
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
***
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
***
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
***
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone
Away from my family, my house and my home.
***
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."
***
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
***
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
**
God Bless And Keep Safe Those Who Stand Watch For Us

[beachn4fun]

TO THE

Good morning, Everyone. Good morning to our

AWESOME

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Lauren, for preparing
the Canteen for today’s activities.

Well, here we are...Christmas Eve.
Hope y'all have gotten all the
shopping, wrapping, and baking done by now.
Funny, I woke up this morning and realized
I don't have anything special for dinner tonight.
I guess I need to dig something out of the freezer.

Mr. Beachy and I will have a quiet evening at home,
watching Christmas movies
before the road running tomorrow.
Early Thursday morning, we are going
to see The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug.

Time for me to make my rounds.
But, you stay right where you are.
Stay as long as you can
before you have to go to bed so that
Santa can sneak into the house.

Now remember, the Canteen is ALWAYS

So, come on in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale
of our military and our allied military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

[ErnBatavia]

My uncle, who’s now well into his 90’s, spent the last several years of his career at Fort Rucker.....he still loves the memories of that period. After retirement, he couldn’t leave Alabama and still lives there.

[alarm rider]

Happy Christmas to all the canteeners.