USO Canteen FReeper Style....Military Families and Friends .......June 23,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

In a special way those here back home are serving our country along with their loved ones .It is not easy to be apart from those we love. Never in our hearts of course but in the day to day of being able to see each other.

As the months go by, many of our soldiers will miss precious moments in the lives of their children. Some will miss the birth of their babies. Many will miss Thanksgiving and Christmas. They will also miss birthdays, anniversaries, that first “baby step”, first days of school, graduations and all the other special times that make up one’s family memories.

We here at the USO Canteen FReeper Style along with showing our support of those serving now and thanking our wonderful Veterans also have shown and will continue to show support and care to those with loved ones serving as well.

We ARE here for all of you and truly care and appreciate all you do for our country. For all you give up in not being with those serving now that you love.

You are the family members and friends and loved ones of the United States Military! We are all are here to have fun and be a support to each other!

We will be the light with you that guides them safely home.

God bless our military personnel and families
with the strength, determination, and love
it will take before this is over.

These are FReepers serving now,and their family or loved ones that are FReepers.
If you have someone to add to our list, please FReep mail me....Snow Bunny.Thank you.

A Blue Star Service Banner displayed in the window of a home is a tradition in America. The Banner lets others know that someone in this home is serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Created in 1917, Blue Star Service Banners were a common site during WWI and WWII.

As citizens steel themselves for the long and difficult "War on Terrorism" the Blue Star Service Banner tradition reminds us all that this new war touches every neighborhood in our land.

The Military Wife

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives & was into His sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?" The Lord replies, "Have you seen the specs on this order. She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both father & mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even is she is pregnant & has the flu, & she must be willing to move to a new location ten times in seventeen years. And, oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands!"

The angel shook her head, "Six pairs of hands? No way." The Lord continued, "Don't worry, I will make other military wives to help her. And I will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked & tired, & be large enough to say, 'I understand' when she doesn't & say 'I love you', regardless." "Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently.

"Go to bed & get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow." "I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her husband from a pier, a runway or a depot, & understand why it's important that he leave."

The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely & sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft." Finally the angel bent over & ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model." The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence. "What you see is not a leak." He said. "It's a tear." "A tear?" What is it there for?" asked the angel. The Lord replies, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride, & a dedication to all the values that she & her husband hold dear." "You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel. The Lord looked puzzled & replied, "I didn't put it there."
~Author Unknown~

My daddy loves me I already know He hugs me and kisses me Please daddy, don't go.

As he leaves our home On this cold wintry morn I know that I'll miss him My heart will be torn.

See my daddy's a sailor I'm so glad to say He sails on a ship Sometimes so far away.

He travels the ocean And goes to many places He visits foreign countries And sees different faces.

My daddy he misses me He always writes me a letter To say he'll be home soon And that all will be better.

I'm counting the days Until my daddy comes back When he walks in the door I will help him unpack

Oh daddy please hurry I'm waiting for you I know you're still out there On the ocean so blue.

Just sailing and sailing And sailing the seas I hope you are coming Hurry up daddy, please.

It's been a long time But the day's finally here When my daddy comes home I know that he's near

I watch as his ship Returns from the sea We're proud of my daddy My mommy and me.

He walks off the ship As proud as can be He did his part So we can be free

I run to my daddy for a hug and a kiss He squeezes me so tightly A squeeze that I miss.

I'm happy my dad's home Happy as can be I know he did his job for my mommy and me.
MY DADDY'S A SAILOR
This Poem is Dedicated to all our Sailors far from home
Written by Wendy, Navy spouse

Married To A Soldier

My husband is a Soldier, so I must live from day to day. For tomorrow could bring what he wants most, a chance to fight for his cause, for his country, or for his life.

I could find myself alone and afraid, not knowing where he is, or how he is, or if I'll ever see him again. I live from day to day and give him my love in every way I can.

When he needs me, I'm there. When he's restless, and anxious to go, and when he tells stories from 'other wars', I smile and agree nothing else could compare.

I hide my tears when he asks me to be strong, to accept his flag if he should give his life in battle. I silently pray I shall not have to give him up this way, that war will never take him from my arms.

But I promised I'd be with him through it all; stand by and support him in all that he has to do. Because he was a Soldier long before he was my husband, and for him there is no other way of life.

So I will be strong. I'll try to give him everything he needs, to love him with all my heart and soul, every day and every minute we have together. Because I'm married to a Soldier, and tomorrow he may be gone.

Copyright© 1980 by Linda McClure-Woodham

For those of Fallen Soldiers.......
For those who fought on distant shore, Who gave without a word; Defending us with honor, So gallantly they served.

For every boy who left his home, Returning there a man; And every woman who made a choice, To make serving part of her plan.

For every fallen soldier, Who gave all they could give; To guarantee our liberty, And the freedom that we live.

Each one who served with honor, The brave, the tried, the true; America gives it thanks today, For we see a hero in you.

~Allison Chambers Coxsey~

God Bless You All.....From our FReeper USO Canteen and FR family to yours ! Thank you all for making it possible for all of us to live in the land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, and to freely fly our flag!!!

[Snow Bunny]

Tribute To HEROES

Tribute to Vietnam Veterans....Please click on picture

The great intangible of America's wars beyond logistics, beyond strategy, beyond wonder weapons and Generals, is the spiritual force of its fighting men and women - and that is the force that the USO so serves.

Free Republic....Click for Donations

Thank you from all those that frequent the FReeper Canteen to Jim Robinson, Founder of FRee Republic and Navy Veteran.

[Snow Bunny]

[Snow Bunny]

The USO Canteen FReeper Style has been given permission to have an address where you can write snail mail and or send packages to our Soldiers in TF Rakkasan

We are proud to adopt this Sergeant Major to our FReeper Canteen
"I can not say how to get a package to the Ranger Bns, but if you want to send one any way there are some great soldiers right here in TF RAKKASAN that would enjoy the package and most of them have been rangers anyway since that is where they seem to flow to when the get to the 101st. You can use my address if you want and I will pass it out to the grunts on the line for you and damn sure let them know."
Address:
SGM R A Herman
TF Rakkasan
HHC 3Bde
APO AE 09355

The receptionist at SAMWolf’s office has a Marine friend of hers that could use some morale building.
He's at Camp LeJeune right now waiting for a training deployment to a ship.
He's 29 has 2 daughters under age 3 and is missing his family.
SAMWolf told her he would pass the Marines’ name and address onto the Canteen.

His current snail mail address is:
Cpl Berger, Charles W.
II MEF MARFOR UNITAS
RECON DET
Bldg 10, Wing 3
PSC 20164
Camp LeJeune, NC 28542-0164
His email is:
charlesberger@hotmail.com

The USS George Washington carrier battle group left NAS Norfolk today for their 6 month .The USS George Washington has about 7,500 sailors and Marines with the carrier and its battle group left to head overseas and likely into combat. The Navy will not disclose the ships's destination.
Prayers for ALL our Troops

The USS McCampbell will be commissioned in August.
USS McCampbell (DDG 85)
FPO AP 96672-1275

[Snow Bunny]

Welcome to the USO Canteen FReeper Style. Thank you for your support of our troops, for thanking our Veterans and for being a FReeper.

[RadioAstronomer]

Hi My dear friend! :-)

[Snow Bunny]

Hi, Starman.

((( hug )))

[DoughtyOne]

Good morning.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi DoughtyOne. Good morning my friend.

(((( hug ))))

[Jen]

Hi Bunny! Great thread. I'm outta here and going to bed. I gotta quit hanging with the Canteen party animals! hahahahaha

[MistyCA]

OH, this is so awesome, Bunny!

[RadioAstronomer]

Well, we closed another Canteen down :-) Thanks, It was alot of fun!

[RadioAstronomer]

OH, this is so awesome, Bunny!

Yes it is!!! :-)

[MistyCA]

thanks to you too! It was fun! :)))

[RadioAstronomer]

You go get some sleep now! :-) I will myself in a few hours!

[MistyCA]

My nephew is currently serving in the Army in Korea. My daughter's best friend from High School, Lisa Savage, is serving in the AirForce in Spokane.

[MistyCA]

Ok.....See you tomorrow :) Night Bunny! Hi Meek and John!

[Bahbah]

Oh, Snow Bunny, I was reading down the list of FReepers in the military and with friends and family serving and there was the reference to my dear one. That is so nice. Her name is Betsy.

[SpookBrat]

Good morning.

[Bahbah]

I just sent Cpl Berger an e-mail. My guess is, thanks to FReepers, he is going to be very surprised when he logs in, may God bless him.

[RadioAstronomer]

Hi!!! :-)