FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Real Hollywood Heroes Part 8 ~ June 9, 2014

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

[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]

TAPS

RIP

PFC MATTHEW H WALKER, USA
1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

Amazing Grace

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Luv!

*HUGS*

The men and women in the field, who are doing the fighting and dying, are Patriots and Heroes. Those who walk the corridors of Power in Washington are liars, hypocrites and Traitors.

I would expand on that statement, but I'm probably already in violation of the non-political rule on this thread.

God Bless our Valiant Troops, and God Bless the United States of America! At some date in the future, the Truth will out and with the help of God, the Right will prevail!

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)

[SandRat]

More Hollywood Heroes..WOW..

[luvie]

When I think of what they’ve done to our heroes, past and present, my blood boils and words simply fail me!

God release us from the evil “empire” that has taken our country!

[SkyDancer]

~ Hi Kathy!

~ Well, late as usual - LOL ~

[luvie]

Great thread! I never get tired of hearing about the ones in the entertainment fields that were heroes!

But....Gilligan’s Island a CULT sitcom??? Since when? LOL!

[luvie]

Good addition to the list! :)

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!


TATTOO
(Click)

Must retire for the evening -

For Every Morn' Brings Forth A Noble Chance,
And Every Chance Demands A Noble Knight!

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

Soldiers of the Greatest Generation
Stand The Watch Tonight!





Standing With Them:
Charleton Heston, Moses And
The LORD!



Sgt. Charlton Heston, USAAF

TAPS
U.S. Marine Band
(Click)

"Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes!"
(King Lear, Act III, Scene iv)



All Gave Some – Some Gave All!!!
(Click)

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!

"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]

G’Day, Janey...((HUGS))

After the latest treasonous acts, and complete lack of support by the cic and his minions, I’m with you. he doesn’t care what happens to our military men and women. He treats them as expendable toys for him to play with.

Bring them home!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

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

[luvie]

Nighty-night, Conor!

Have a great week! (((hugs)))

[SkyDancer]

Where are those ladies in pink or war protestors like when Bush was in office?

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

Still dry? Ready for the new week?

We got a little rain overnight.

[SandRat]

Pat Hingle also appeared on “In th Heat Of the Night TV series” as Officer Parkers step father.

[luvie]

Whaaaaaaaaaa??
Monday already!?
Say it isn't so, Night Owls!
(((hugs)))

[1st Division guy]

I am impressed

[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.

[AZamericonnie]

Rest In Peace our Heroes

Il Silenzio

Let Them In St. Peter

[SandRat]