FReeper Canteen ~ Remembering Our Troops! ~ 04 May 2017

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).

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!!!!!!!

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

Five-Minute Rule

May 4, 2017

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. Psalm 102:17

I read about a five-minute rule that a mother had for her children. They had to be ready for school and gather together five minutes before it was time to leave each day.

They would gather around Mom, and she would pray for each one by name, asking for the Lord’s blessing on their day. Then she’d give them a kiss and off they’d run. Even neighborhood kids would be included in the prayer circle if they happened to stop by. One of the children said many years later that she learned from this experience how crucial prayer is to her day.

The writer of Psalm 102 knew the importance of prayer. This psalm is labeled, “A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.” He cried out, “Hear my prayer, Lord; . . . when I call, answer me quickly” (vv. 1–2). God looks down “from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he [views] the earth” (v. 19).

God cares for you and wants to hear from you. Whether you follow the five-minute rule asking for blessings on the day, or need to spend more time crying out to Him in deep distress, talk to the Lord each day. Your example may have a big impact on your family or someone close to you.

Teach me to be aware of Your presence, Lord, and to talk to You freely and often.

Read

Jesus' Blueprint for Prayer at discoveryseries.org/hj891.

Prayer is an acknowledgment of our need for God.

INSIGHT:

Our Father welcomes us into His presence in prayer, but we also have the encouraging record of Jesus Himself praying for us! As the Teacher moved ever closer to the cross, Jesus prayed for His followers who walked with Him and all (including us) who would later come to Him (John 17:20). And when we pray, the Holy Spirit helps us align our prayers with the Father’s purposes (Rom. 8:26–27).

woo hoo, ma!

WOO-HOO!

Permission Granted!

Thanks very much, Kathy!
***HUGS***

Striding up the gangplank as we speak,
rendering Hand Salutes to our National Colors
and to the Officer of the Deck!
Thank you very much for this evening's
"Remembering Our Troops" thread!

REST IN PEACE, FALLEN BROTHER!

Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, USA
Company C, 3rd Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
KIA Afghanistan 27 April 2017

"God Of Our Fathers"
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
(Click)

"Taps"
(Click)

REST IN PEACE, FALLEN BROTHER!

Sgt. Cameron Thomas, USA
Company D, 3rd Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
KIA Afghanistan 27 April 2017

"God Of Our Fathers"
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
(Click)

"Taps"
(Click)

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

I’m thinking I can see the weekend from here. Hurrah!!

REST IN PEACE, FALLEN BROTHER!

1st Lt. Weston C. Lee, USA
1st Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
KIA Afghanistan 29 April 2017

"God Of Our Fathers"
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
(Click)

"Taps"
(Click)

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!!

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

We have behbehs! Three little girlies and one little boy.
And one very tired lil momma.

Hiya radu!

Warm here today, 80 degrees felt fine!

I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow for some business and then spending a few days with my Sister and BIL and finally to visit my daughter. Need to hit the sack earlier tonight too, LOL. I can't wait to deal with that Seattle traffic, ugh!

I may or may not be in the Canteen then.

Howz things? We have kittens yet?

Howdy, Kathy.

Hope you’re bouncing back from that horrid cold at last.

THERE those kittens are, when did they ‘hatch’? Were you around then? Did Pixie give an indication they were coming?

Dang, it’s warmer there than here! Feels good, doesn’t it? LOL

I knew you were heading off to visit your Sister and BIL soon but didn’t know when. Hope you have a great time! If you don’t make it to the Canteen while you’re gone, you know we’ll be rah-cheer when ya get back. :-)

Things are good here, though I’m whipped. You’ve seen the reason why by now.

Woohoo, Ms Feather...*hugs*

Any birdies returning yet? I haven’t seen a one here for at least a week. Did have a magpie on the deck earlier today...had beautiful shiny blue wings.