FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Sir Nicholas Winton ~ February 10, 2014

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...most definitely a true hero.

Hope you’ve had a restful weekend and are ready for a Maddi Monday. ((HUGS))

[larryjohnson]

I have ordered custom frames to go with my new Florida U.S Air Force license plates. The owners of the site are both former U S air combat pilots,father and son. You will enjoy visiting:

www.usaircombat.com

[Kathy in Alaska]

So many, many unsung heroes in our history.

Thanks, Star, for the story of a great hero!! ((HUGS))

[SandRat]

Good evening. Kathy...((HUGS))

A most restful weekend. Looking forward to Maddi-Time tomorrow.

[ConorMacNessa]

L/Cpl. William R. Prom, USMC (MOH)

From Today in U.S. Military History:

9 February 1969 – Near An Hoa, RVN

Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machinegun squad leader with Company I, in action against the enemy. While returning from a reconnaissance operation during Operation TAYLOR COMMON, 2 platoons of Company I came under an intense automatic weapons fire and grenade attack from a well concealed North Vietnamese Army force in fortified positions. The leading element of the platoon was isolated and several marines were wounded. L/Cpl. Prom immediately assumed control of one of his machineguns and began to deliver return fire. Disregarding his safety he advanced to a position from which he could more effectively delivering covering fire while first aid was administered to the wounded men. Realizing that the enemy would have to be destroyed before the injured marines could be evacuated, L/Cpl. Prom again moved forward and delivered a heavy volume of fire with such accuracy that he was instrumental in routing the enemy, thus permitting his men to regroup and resume their march. Shortly thereafter, the platoon again came under heavy fire in which one man was critically wounded. Reacting instantly, L/Cpl. Prom moved forward to protect his injured comrade. Unable to continue his fire because of his severe wounds, he continued to advance to within a few yards to the enemy positions. There, standing in full view of the enemy, he accurately directed the fire of his support elements until he was mortally wounded. Inspired by his heroic actions, the marines launched an assault that destroyed the enemy. L/Cpl. Prom’s indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

"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)

[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."

Many Thanks To Alfa6 For Finding Capt. Lefon's Chronicle Of "The Empty Chair."

"Träumerei"
Robert Schumann
(Click)

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

"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)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...hope you’ve had a relaxing day and the bug that has downed you is being defeated.

Still pretty chilly, but hopefully you aren’t still having ice issues.

Teens here, with a hope for snow coming this weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Kate Smith ~ God Bless America

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...how did the choir do today?

Is Pastor Jerry doing well?

You and Lynn-Dah get to go for a ride?

[left that other site]

Well, dear FRiend, it takes a while for those aches and pains to go away, as in any trauma, so i am keeping pastor jerry in my prayers for a full recovery.

We debuted the three songs today and they went well, except when i stepped on my bass chord dancing around and unplugged myself! Eek!

I wrote two more songs when i got home. Psalm 139 and Romans 5:6-11

[ConorMacNessa]

We're just below freezing now - low 20's expected overnight. We had a dusting of snow late this afternoon - slight accumulation.

The bug is not yet defeated - after eight days on antibiotics. The bug and the antibiotics are kicking my tail - I didn't make it to Mass today and I'm very fatigued. I'll be hitting the hay in about a half-hour.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

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]

Wonderful story! I read it and posted it on Facebook, too. There are so many unsung heroes that only get their stories told many years after the fact.

Thanks, Galz, for posting this one!

[yarddog]

Inter Allied Conference, later more commonly called "Potsdam". Truman, Stalin and Churchill.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Stay warm and safe!!

[The Mayor]

I’m trying

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh no...unplugged yourself?? Glad your new songs went well.

And 2 new ones? Good job!

Prayers continue for Pastor Jerry and his recovery.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my goodness....those dictators really like to see themselves.

Good evening, yarddog...thanks for posting it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Evil incarnate....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...are you safe and warm?

The Holocaust heroes are very inspiring.

[yarddog]

I often do something which I guess anyone else could do but very few seem to do it.

I will cover half of a person’s face and often I see a totally different person. First one side then the other. For instance I know a girl who is the sweetest little girl you ever saw. I can look at only her right side and all I see is a pretty girl. On the other hand, if I see only her left side it is easy to see just how sweet she really is.

With Hitler, if you just look at his right side, he looks rather ordinary but on his left side he does look very, very mean even sinister which of course comes from the Latin work sinistra which means left handed.