USO Canteen FReeper Style....Monday Mail Call.... July 15,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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If you know a Veteran, someone in your family,
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank them.
Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.

We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper Style,
are thankful for every service member
in our military, who has served our great nation.

So, to the men and women who answered the call,
in both times of war and peace, thank you.

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Message from Snow Bunny to all those who visit the Canteen.

This is how I think of the USO Canteen Freeper Style.
It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night.

Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too.
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of place
that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, a library, etc.

Many Veterans have written to me,
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they served.

This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy
and sometimes troubling world.
Make yourself at home...............................................................................................................................................................................

Our troops need our support and encouragement. They are away from home, some for the first time, and usually lonely or discouraged. It is important for us to reach out and help them in the same way we would want someone to reach out to our loved ones if and when they are in the same position.

They answered their call and we are answering theirs offering them the USO Canteen FReeper Style each day and thanking them for serving.

This is IN Coming Mail from some of those serving now.

We at the USO Canteen FReeper Style, a running thread at Free Republic, are proud to support our Military. The mail comes in from contacting some of our Military Bases, Marine Corps Leagues , and friends and family of those serving now. Also from responses at the wonderful P.O.Box that 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub has made so easily available to each of us here at Free Republic.

They are writing to those that frequent the FReeper USO Canteen to thank you for your support.

ALL the mail posted on Monday Mail Call is Recent Mail from the prior week.

Dear Canteen Troops,
Snow Bunny thank you! ALL at the Freeper USO Canteen
Thank You ! Your support of us sure brightens our day here.
My Grandfather is a FReeper and when Grandpa talks we
Listen. LOL. He wrote me that if I ever feel down and that
while serving there would be times like that, to send him an
Email . Well Grandpa got the email and he gave me a Rx .

“Take one dose of the USO Canteen Freeper Style and see
how you felt afterward.”

He included the web site and am I ever feeling better. Grandpa
served in Vietnam, then came back and has been the doc here
where I grew up.
I want to thank each of you at the Canteen for your enthusiastic
support and for making my time serving be more up days then down.
You are all the best!
Jeff
US Navy

Dear Snow Bunny,
I am writing to tell you the biggest thank you possible.
The Canteen you and all those awesome freepers have
created each day is my home.

I grew up in foster homes one after the other all my life,
and then as soon as I was out of highschool I enlisted.
I knew it was the right thing for me.
You see the one constant thing in my life has been my love
for my country. I want to protect her and guard the freedoms she
has for me. I love history and read everything I could about why we are free, why we have liberty and our founding fathers. How all our wars
were to keep us free and they Were !

I want to be a part of why you and the Canteers and myself are STILL
free .How can I live the rest of my life in a land where I have not
done my part to help.

Thank you for being my home, more of a home then I have ever had. I know all your names there . You have all made me laugh so hard when I
really needed it.

Freeper Friday is one of my favorite days . I also really like Themelesss Thursday, it is so clever how you do that Samwolf.

Souris, Light Speed, Victoria Delsoul, MistyCA, SpookBrat , AntiJen,Joe Brower, Coteblanche, DoughtyOne, everyone ( !!) I know you take the time to find the things you share and put things together and it means an awful lot to me.

I feel like the bad boys are my brothers that are always up to something, pushing the card to see how much they can get away with teasing the girls and keeping them on their toes. Your 666 is such a hilarious, who will it be today. ROTFL

So many things that just really make it a home to me . Snow Bunny, I think one of the reasons it is such a great place is also because everyone there has a heart like yours. You all really do care about us, and you have gathered these fine people in a place the a Great man Jim Robinson has made possible. AWESOME !

Thank you Jim Robinson, what a great man you are. I cannot find the words to thank you for what you have done. FR is a place to gain knowledge and information. Then you added the USO Canteen Freeper Style and gave me a home online. Thank you Sir!

God bless all of you and thank you for more things then I can say.

Scott
US Navy

Snow Bunny,
Do you and the Canteeners know how to throw a party ? I think
you all invented what party is supposed to mean!
This is to EVERYONE that gave us the best NO , the most
outstanding party that we ever saw.How you did this we don’t
know , but you played all the right songs, wore the hottest goodies,
eye candy all of you , ( meant with all respect of course ), and gave
us a day to remember for a very long time !
We had to do some pulling here and a few trades , but believe us it was
worth it !!!! We managed to take turns and we are happy to report it was smooth.

Thank you SpookBrat!!

Victoria Delsoul, Aquamarine,Coteblanche, SAMWolf, MistyCA,
MeeknMing,SpookBrat,SassyMom,Clara Suzanne, Gator Girl , Eastbound,
Kneezles, Tomkow6,Redhead,Mr_Magoo;COB1,LindaSOG,Lodwick,
Radio Astronomer ,Souris,4TheFlag,HiJinx ,Beep , Sir Gawain , Light Speed,
68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub,LadyX,Blackie ,AntiJen .I sure hope we
got all the names, because it was one heck of a party !

MistyCA, 666 took on a whole new meaning with you Patriotic Babe!

Marty is in love with you Souris

Thank you for the best party. You made it happen and we can’t thank you
all enough!

Joe, Marty, Al, and myself,
OK so this is where I have to pay back for opening
my mouth about Marty. LOL.
Victoria if I ever get to New York. I know you are
probably booked till 2004 but
a hot dog at Rockefeller Center just to say hi.
(Just a dream I had, from a scrounger )
A Late Happy Birthday SassyMom!
Scully and the Pirates
US Navy

Dear Snow Bunny
WOW ! Awesome! Great Party!

This was my fourth visit to the Freeper USO Canteen.
GOD Bless all of you! You all have a big fan here and
I love you all!
Thank you for being there when I need you !
Sandy
USMC

Dearest adorable Snow Bunny,
Will you marry me, and will Victoria Marry me and then there is MistyCA and Coteblanche and antiJen and Clara, and that little SpookBrat, Souris, SassyMom,Redhead, ah heck everyone !!!! ( mean the girls ) LOL

Thank you Canteeners the guys too for your constant support for us
You are true patriots in every way!
One of those Snow Bunny hugs she does for each of you girls!
God bless you all !
Trevor
USAF

To all the Canteeners
You make the USO the hottest show on the face of this earth!
I salute each and every one of you !!!
I get to see the Canteen everyday!
Thanks for FReeper Friday and I got to see my home State Colorado
that was such a great day for me. The Liberty meant a lot to me.
I sent the web site to my girl back in Colorado that day and it made
us feel closer! Thanks ! You did a great job, Aquamarine and Bunny and I hate to start to name anyone I might forget. So thank you all around!

Sergio
US Army

Snow Bunny,
First thank you for all you do. Your last email to me helped and I
forwarded it back home.
What a fine group of Americans hang out at FR and the Canteen. I can
keep up with events back home thanks to MeeknMing and his links. Get
the best jokes from Mr_Magoo and Tomkow6 where my sides spilt from
laughing so hard.
I also like the way the Canteen feels like a gift from all of you to us over
here. I guess I should say a gift to all the troops everywhere, because I am
betting many others get to see the Canteen too. I hope they do, it sure lifts
the spirits into soaring !

So thanks for all the work you all do , the work to make us see just how
how much America cares.
I have made the Army my career and I never saw a USO Canteen like you
have there.You and everyone there is first class all the way! God knew we needed people like you and a place like FR and the Canteen.

Steve US Army

Jim Robinson and Snow Bunny
In 1998 I began to read FR, everyday, rain or shine !
We have sent troops off to war, placed them as Peacekeepers
around the world, left them in countries we promised to being
them back home from time and time again, and not once have I seen such support for our military. Not once have I seen a welcome home for our
Nam vets like you and the Canteen have done at FR.

Jim Robinson is a personal hero of mine for many reasons !
But when he started the USO Canteen Freeper Style he made
my heart burst with pride in being a Freeper. A lurker yes, but
my heart is ALL FReeper.

I am a disabled vet, and wish I could donate to FR. Unfortunately
my support cannot be financial , but if I could I would pay each day
to keep FR up and running.

Jim Robinson , as a veteran you know how a guy feels away from home.
You know how important the USO has been in many of our lives when we
were serving and needed the USO kind of support. Not many men can
say they came up with one good idea in their life that took place and you
sir have now had TWO. FR and now the Freeper USO Canteen!

Thank you Snow Bunny and all the Canteeners for making this idea of
Jim Robinson’s come into being each day.
You make my days brighter in so many ways.
Andy
USMC
Vietnam Veteran and Free Republic Lurker since 1998

Dear Mr. Robinson and Bunny
Thank you for Freeper Friday, Saturday Liberty and all the days
at the Canteen. My family and I do not discuss politics nor our
military. Let me put it this way, my family would be the ones on
the other side of the street where Jim Robinson has his Fresno
Rally’s every Friday night.

When I enlisted it was shall we say the last straw for them, but it is
OK. When I found out about the USO Freeper Canteen at FR it took
the deep hurt and shelved it better then anything else.

You see I love my country and no matter what I have a need in my guts
to defend it . When I get computer time you all there are my life support
to how I am hoping all of America feels about us. You have all made a
difference in my life more then I can write here.

Thank you for your hard work each day , ALL OF YOU ! And for the
Fresno Rally every Friday night.

God be with you and your families.
Glenn
USNavy

Canteeners make my day!
Roses for the ladies and a tall cool one for the guys. Thank you !

Liberty to California and that Beach party is one that should be
in the USO History books!

Luis
US Army

Dear Snow ,
I am from San Diego and have been in the Marines since one year before 911 happened.
I think you and the Canteeners would be there if there was only one of
us out here. Honest , I don’t think I ever met anyone like you guys in
my whole life .
Thank you for your support. I am dedicated to our country and you make up
my homeland. So count on me to not let you down. You sure don’t let
me down in your tremendous support each day. Thank you all.

B. K.
USMC

Jim Robinson, Snow Bunny ,Coteblanche and Just Amy,

We all get news from back home and sometimes it isn’t good. I know about those that are against this war and it sickens me and hurts inside. But they are just a handful of people and I know it too.
When I come to FR and see the Freeper USO Canteen as you nicknamed it, and the Fresno Rally’s. Well, let’s put it this way, I have only cried a few
times in my life. Once when my dog died , and the other time when my brother was very sick. But when I saw the support at FR from the Canteen and the Fresno freepers too that was the third time. Tears of happiness I promise you.

Thank you all you Freepers and Jim Robinson and your cute helper JustAmy,Snow Bunny and all the Canteeners. I wish I could write better,just to let you know how much the Canteen and support means to me.

You all can take a guys heart, get him laughing then turn me in another
direction and have me with a lump in my throat. The way you are all so
friendly at the Canteen in such a sincere way, and the obvious love you have for each other and for all of us. Man there is that lump again!

God sent you all into my life and I will fight with all I have to keep you safe.This is something I don’t tell a lot of people. I love to read poetry. When I saw the box to click on for poetry, I clicked on it right away.

Now I read that thread too along with the Canteen every time I get to be
online. Maybe you are surprised to hear that a Marine would like
poetry but it is a great way of expression. I have sent copies of some of the
poems back home to my parents.

Thank you for variety of things your Canteen offers each day. Those jokes
are the best too.That day Mr_Magoo and Tomkow6 had a joke off, I didn’t stop laughing for hours.
My Grandfather was in several battles and I showed him the Canteen too.
He especially liked the ladies and said the dolls as you call them reminded
him of the Pin Ups they had. He had them in his barracks and even one
folded up in his helmet. My Dad fought in Vietnam and he had two girls
pictures with him all the time. He didn’t meet my mom till right after he got
home. The story goes she won him over when she put the two small
pictures he had of girls in the Medal Box with his purple heart.

Thank you for your support of what we are doing.

The Canteen is a place I look forward to coming to. And yes, it is that
Cottage down a road for a weary veteran or a weary in spirit soldier.

Love to you all for your hearts,
Joe
USMC

[blackie]

A Tribute to Army Nurses and to their commitment !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

Snow Bunny, you're up real early or real late...0300, wow... :o)

[tomkow6]

A man is struck by a bus on a busy street
in New York City. He lies dying on the
sidewalk as a crowd of spectators gathers
around.

"A priest. Somebody get me a priest!" the
man gasps. A policeman checks the crowd
----no priest, no minister, no man of
God of any kind.

"A PRIEST, PLEASE!" the dying man says
again.

Then out of the crowd steps a little old
Jewish man of at least eighty years of
age."Mr. Policeman," says the man, "I'm
not a priest. I'm not even a Catholic.
But for fifty years now I'm living behind
St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church on First
Avenue, and every night I'm listening to
the Catholic litany.Maybe I can be of
some comfort to this man."

The policeman agreed and brought the
octogenarian over to where the dying man
lay. He kneels down, leans over the
injured and says in a solemn voice: "B-4.
I-19. N-38. G-54. O-72. . ."

[Aquamarine]

Thanks Jen, but don't feel too bad. That park probably has at least 2 paid gardeners maintaning it.
If I ever get wealthy...hehe...I will hire me a full time gardener to keep my place looking like that all the time. Until then I'll just keep pulling at my crab grass.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning cote!

Canadians win Welsh Guard March and Shoot

Capt. Rhoda Frampton

Soldiers from the Canadian Battalion Group 2e Royal 22e Regiment (CA BG 2e R22eR) walked away with top honours after completing the gruelling Welsh Guard march and shoot competition held at Manjaca Range.

Manjaca - "The initial part, the eight-mile route march, is based on our basic combat fitness test which we have to do annually," said Maj. Guy Bartle-James, Welsh Guards Battalion 2IC and co-ordinator of the event. "The only difference here are the hills."

The fastest time
The thirteen, twelve-person teams from Multinational Division Southwest had to cover eight miles with 35 pounds of kit in two hours. They then had to cover two miles as fast as possible with their 15 pounds of webbing, rifle and helmet. At the end of the two miles they went straight to a shoot, firing at falling metal plates at a distance of 200 metres.

The team with the fastest time from the start of the two miles to knocking down all their plates was declared the winner. Compensation was made for those that did not have magnified sites. The prestigious first place honour went to the lone Canadian team comprised of soldiers from A, B, C Coy and Q Battery from CA BG 2e R22eR. "I think that it just goes to show that Canadian soldiers are the best, that when the time comes to make an effort we can match any nationality," said Lt. Col. Pierre Lessard, commanding officer, CA BG 2e R22eR. "We have the people, we have the equipment, we have the training, and the results just speak for themselves."

It was an early rise for the competitors as the day began with kit weigh in at 4:30 a.m. The first team stepped off at 5 a.m., at twenty-minute intervals both days. With summer temperatures rising quickly it was important to have the competition completed by mid-morning.

Rough terrain
The eight-mile long route was not without challenge. The competitors faced rough terrain immediately after their departure from the camp on a path that took them to Route Donkey, up to Han Kola, and onto Route Smudge with a steep march to the end of their eight miles. Each team had a minimum five-minute break before facing the tough two-mile run to Manjaca south onto the range.

"We had one week of training, we didn't have time to train a lot but we tried to shoot a lot," said Lt. Jean-Benoit Garneau, CA BG B Coy Platoon Commander for 4 Platoon and team captain for the March and Shoot. "We practised shooting at 100 metres but here it is 200 metres so we had to zero our weapons yesterday and practise shooting at the iron plates."

Soldiers from CA BG 2eR22eR march the first eight miles of the Welsh Guard March and Shoot held at Manjaca Range. The remainder of the competition required them to run an additional two miles, and shoot at falling plates at a distance of 200 metres

Lance Cpl's Mark Goulbourn and Andrew Griffiths Number 3 Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards take part in the Welsh Guard March and Shoot Competition held at Manjaca Range

Pvt. Sébastien Tremblay CA BG C Coy Platoon 5 calls out to his fellow teammates at the 200 metres firing point at Manjaca Range.

Guardsman Mattew Evans 07 Number 2 Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards completes the last of the two-mile run after having completed the eight-mile march

[Aquamarine]

Here's a picture of the "King of Texas" COB1 at the Freeper picnic in California.

[summer]

Re my post #92 - I realize I wrote: "Hello CalraSuzanne!" but I meant: "Hello ClaraSuzanne!"

Sorry about that!

(BTW, one day I meant to post to "AmishDude," but instead mistakenly typed in "AmishDud"! )

[blackie]

Right-on Sam, FallGuy and Snow Bunny are super people and a joy to be with !!

Paddington slept during their visit with us...he did raise one eye lid just before they departed... :o)

[deadhead]

Beautiful, touching letters! Thank You to all of you for writing these very special letters.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS

GOD BLESS AMERICA

~~~deadhead~~~

[MamaB]

Good morning, What wonderful letters. I do remember how much mail meant to my 2 much older brothers when they were in the Air Force and Army. Thanks to everyone who has served or are serving this great country of ours. You are the ones who leave family and friends to defend this country and everyone of us.