USO Canteen FReeper Style Welcome Warriors Veterans of Foreign Wars September 17,2002

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.

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VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
came into existence in 1913 as a result of amalgamations
over a period of years since 1899 of five separate foreign
service organizations that had the same ideals and similar
requirements for membership. These organizations came
into being entirely independent of one another and without
the knowledge of one another at the time of their origin.

A brief resume of these unites is as follows:

September 1899,
AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE
organized as a national body in Columbus, Ohio.
Were chartered by the State of Ohio October 10, 1899
and elected J. C. Putnam as their first Commander-in-Chief.
They were organized through the efforts of James Romanis.

December 1899,
COLORADO SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES
organized at Denver, Colorado by General Irving Hale.
Became NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF
THE PHILIPPINES on August 13, 1900 with
Francis V. Greene as their first Commander-in-Chief.
At their Encampment in August 1909 they changed the
name to ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES. July 7, 1901,
H.O. Kelley organized PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS in
Altoona, Pennsylvania. In July 1902 reorganized with
C.O. Knighton as President.

October 1901,
PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS
organized at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with G.H. Smith
being elected Commander. On April 27, 1902 reorganized
as FOREIGN SERVICE VETERANS with Jacques La Belle
as Commander. July 24, 1902, AMERICAN VETERANS OF
PHILIPPINE AND CHINA WARS organized at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania by Captain Robert S. Hansbury.

The PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS-Altoona
, PHILIPPINE WAR VETERANS-Pittsburgh, and
AMERICAN VETERANS OF THE PHILIPPINE AND
CHINA WARS-Philadelphia met together
September 10-12, 1903 at Altoona, Pennsylvania and formed
the Eastern society of the AMERICAN VETERANS OF
THE PHILIPPINES, CUBAN, PUERTO RICAN & CHINA
WARS organization. In 1903 the name was changed by plebiscite
to AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE-Eastern Branch.

During the period of September 13-15, 1905,
at Altoona, Pennsylvania, the Eastern Branch of the
AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE,
which was formed in 1903 at Altoona, Pennsylvania,
amalgamated with the original AMERICAN VETERANS
OF FOREIGN SERVICE of Columbus, Ohio to become
one society known as the AMERICAN VETERANS OF
FOREIGN SERVICE. Herbert O. Kelley, of Altoona, was
elected Commander.

In August, 1913, at Denver, Colorado, the
ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES and the
AMERICAN VETERANS OF FOREIGN SERVICE
united under the temporary name of ARMY OF THE
PHILIPPINES, CUBA AND PUERTO RICO with
Rice W. Means as the first Commander-in Chief.
During the year the organization's name was changed
by plebiscite and General Order No. 1 to the present day
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES.

At the Encampment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1914,
the name
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
and a constitution were formally adopted.

On May 28, 1936, Congressional Charter incorporated the
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES.

History shows that the Cross of Malta,
the emblem of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,
is 1,000 years old.
Nearly ten centuries ago the Maltese Cross was
made the symbol of fighting men who were united
by a solemn pledge of comradeship to fight for freedom
and to aid the sick and the needy.
Those ancient obligations are still symbolized by the
Cross of Malta today, for the more than two million former
servicemen who are the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The Cross of Malta is the symbol of their battles in time of war
and of their campaign to defend the God given rights of human
beings in time of peace. The Cross of Malta symbolizes the
compassion, or sympathy, of those men and women for the needy.
It is the sign of services which our contemporary veterans render to
help make living a little better for everyone.

The Knights of St. John represented all
walks of life. They were noblemen and priests,
artisans and laborers. Regardless of those
differences, however, they were united by a
solemn pledge of unwavering courage and
compassion. Together they fought against
oppression.

The Cross of Malta had a religious origin
but the Knights of St. John also made it
their battle standard for the liberation of all
men, women and children who suffered
oppression. The ideals for which the original
Crusaders fought parallel the principles of
democracy today, freedom and justice.

Why did the Veterans of Foreign Wars
select the Cross of Malta emblem?

What has been added to the Cross
and what does the symbol mean?

Upon the Cross is superimposed the
Great Seal of the United States,
encircled by the name,Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States.
Within the circle is the American eagle,
the emblem of a proud nation whose
warriors of many generations have fought
and sacrificed to preserve the free mans
way of living.

Between the four arms of the Cross,
the Veterans of Foreign Wars has added
the suns rays to emphasize the vigor and
warmth with which the present day
brotherhood defends our ideals.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is the
worlds oldest and largest overseas war
veterans organization.
It is chartered by the Congress of the
United States.

That charter states specifically that the
objects of the VFW shall be;
fraternal
patriotic
historical educational
that its members shall preserve and
strengthen comradeship
that they shall maintain allegiance to
the government of the United States
and fidelity to its laws
that VFW members shall foster true
patriotism, extend American freedom
and defend this nation from all enemies.

There are 2.1 million members of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars

The VFW is also joined by 750,000 members
of our Ladies Auxiliary.

~Honor the Dead by Helping the Living~

The VFW was the first veterans' organization to adopt the poppy
and develop a national distribution campaign. For more than 75
years, the VFW's Buddy Poppy program has raised millions of
dollars in support of veterans' welfare and the well being of their
dependents. From the very beginning, Buddy Poppy has received
the support of the Veterans Administration and the endorsement
and cooperation of all presidents since Warren G. Harding.

Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled,
needy and aging veterans in VA Hospitals and domiciliaries
across the country and are sold at VFW Posts and their Ladies
Auxiliaries.

In Flander's Field" describes a battlefield of crosses dotted
with red poppies. The poem deeply touched the nation and
the world, and, from that point on, poppies became known
throughout the world as a memorial flower,
a reminder of the lives lost in wartime.

"In Flanders Fields"
~ by John McCrae~

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, 
Between the crosses, row on row, 
That mark our place; and in the sky, 
The larks, still bravely singing, fly, 
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. 
Short days ago, 
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 
Loved and were loved and now we lie, 
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw, 
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die, 
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks Meekie. Thanks Carl. Do you think we have enough sugar?? LOL!! Ahhh, that was good. (of course I am completely wired til tonight now!)

[Kathy in Alaska]

One of these?

[SAMWolf]

Old Glory respect begins early.

I often have opportunity to attend various ceremonies while visiting an elementary school as part of a mentoring team. The ceremonies traditionally began with the playing of the national anthem.

At one ceremony, I noticed a youngster who promptly stood and placed her hand over her heart and kept it there while she stood proudly for the duration of the song. While some fellow students around her were fidgeting and engaging in sidebar chats, the young lady, who appeared to be around 6 years old, maintained her poise and refused to let anything distract her.

After the ceremony, I approached her and asked her a few questions. She proudly informed me her mother and father were both in the Air Force. She also told me it was a regular practice in her family to show respect for the national anthem and the flag.

Whether they were attending the base theater, a ball game or other special events, she said she always stood and placed her hand over her heart.

My first thought was "here we have a child who is doing this because her parents had in the past chastised her publicly or threatened her with punishment if she did not do this." Imagine my surprise when she answered my next question. I asked her if she would forego the standing and placement of the hand if she knew her parents would never find out about it. She replied, "No sir. I would do it because I know he is watching."

The "he" she was referring to was her grandfather who died in battle during World War II. Apparently her family visits the Veteran's Cemetery every 4th of July, Memorial Day and Veterans Day to honor her grandfather with a small ceremony.

During the family ritual, her parents always talk about how he had died fighting for his country and would place a flag at his gravesite. At the end of the ceremony, they would always look skyward and tell granddad how much they loved him. To close out the ceremony, Mom or Dad would usually salute the gravesite. When they did so, the little girl would place her hand over her heart and stand at attention just like them.

Respect for the flag is a time-honored tradition that should never be taken lightly.

Old Glory has endured many wars and has stood as a symbol of freedom for many. The next time you get the opportunity to show your respect, by all means do so. After all, "he" and others like him who gave their lives while defending the right for the Stars and Stripes to fly are watching.

By Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Beckett

[Kathy in Alaska]

Spookie, getting sick is no fun. Get thee to the vitamins! ((HUGS)) and prayers for feeling better real soon.

[GatorGirl]

Thanks, Kathy--yes 30 days as far as I know. Hope all is well up there on the diagonal! Love, GG

[SAMWolf]

I know it's not Memorial Day, but I think this article applies everyday.

Honor Our War Dead: Fly 'Old Glory'
By Patrick H. Brady

Our freedom is a treasure chest. It was filled by the sacrifices of our great heroes and patriots -- by our veterans, POWs, and MIAs.

The chest of freedom must continuously be replenished by our sacrifices, by growing and nurturing patriots who alone will ensure our future when, one day, they become veterans.

This Memorial Day, patriotic Americans will decorate, with the first flowers of spring, the graves of those who sacrificed their youth, who gave all the spring times of their lives, so that liberty might grow old.

The fact that we have such a tradition marks our greatness as a people.

Our honored war dead have been the vault for the values of this nation. And that is what is important to the veterans I have known. They did not take an oath to defend a person, a party, a king or a dictator -- they took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States -- a set of values.

That is what veterans would like for us to honor, not just them, but the values for which they gave so much of body and soul -- values such as courage, a willingness to sacrifice, service to others and to country.

What is most important, indeed vital, is that the youth of today see that we remember. See that we are grateful, know that service and sacrifice and courage are noble things, and that America, which has no kings or queens, still has a nobility. They are called -- veterans.

I wonder what those we remember today would think if they could come back to the America they saved and watch our TVs, or sit in a classroom, or read our newspapers.

I know that in the midst of the devaluing of America and of patriotism, there is one issue that would hurt the most: seeing that it is legal to desecrate the flag for which they fought. It is the family portrait of all Americans. It is the sacred shroud that embraced their coffin, and which was the tissue for the tears of their loved ones.

They would be outraged by a Supreme Court that took away our freedom to protect their flag.

They would be horrified to hear the elitists in this country say they died on the battlefields of the world so that their flag could be burned on the street corners of America. They did not give their last full measure of devotion to keep the likes of Hitler, Kim Il Sung and Ho Chi Minh from dishonoring our flag, only to have the people they fought for allow a few judges to disgrace it.

It was not the courts or the ACLU who gave us freedom of speech, our veterans did. It is not radical demonstrators burning our flag who contribute to peace. It is the men and women who served and sacrificed under the flag, and who respect the values it embodies who are the real peace demonstrators.

If the great Americans we remember today could come back, they would be in the front lines fighting to recapture our flag.

The courts have taken the word "speech" from the First Amendment and distorted it beyond recognition. Just consider: prayer is not protected speech, pornography is. Burning a draft card or a cross is not protected speech, but burning an American flag is.

If you disagree with the courts who say that desecrating the flag is speech, and if you agree with 80 percent of the American people who say it is despicable, hateful conduct, fly your flag.

If you believe that the core of this issue is values and if you believe that our laws should reflect our values, then show your colors!

If you believe in democracy, in the right of the majority to determine the laws and values that govern their society, fly the symbol of democracy.

If you agree with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who adopted the first flag and wrote the First Amendment, that the flag should be protected, fly your flag. It will say thanks to all the founding fathers and be a giant step toward recapturing the Constitution and restoring it to the way they intended it to be.

If you agree with George Washington that amending the Constitution is the only way for the people to control and perfect it, then fly the flag that Washington himself helped design.

The great thing about our veterans is that they never really leave us, dead or alive. The noblest part of their being stays with us as a part of our being as a free people.

As long as they are a part of our being, as long as we remember, we will never fly a white flag, but we will forever wave a red, white, and blue flag. Nothing we do will do more to free our flag, and to honor their memory, than to begin on Memorial Day to fly Old Glory.

[Radix]

Dear Snow,
The other night SAM and Tonk referred to me as brother. I thought about that a bit. I was thinking about them and their service. I began to think about my time in the Army. I then started thinking about the people who are in the Military today, and all veterans. I have been learning a lot from your little Canteen.
This morning (Tuesday) I woke up and I was thinking about something that happened to me when I was in the Army. I hope that you do not mind if I share.
In 1979 perhaps 1980 I was assigned a trip to Bremerhaven. I had been to B`haven before, but this time I was going solo. It was a 400 mile trip each way. When I got there I had to RON. I knew absolutely nobody there. I was assigned a bed and then I went off to the recreation facility that was there. It was pretty much alive there. Lots of GIs doing what GIs do when they are off duty.
I sat around and after a while I noticed a bookshelf. This shelf had big books. Each book had the name of 1 of the 50 States on its binding. I picked one of them up and perused it. It was a book that was made with blank pages. Only the pages were not blank. People had been writing in the books. I was totally enthralled. I quickly retrieved the book with the name of my state on it (Massachusetts).
Once upon a time Bremerhaven had been the point of departure for Military people who were returning to The USA. Many times people had to wait there for days even for their ship. These books were full of writings by different people who had been waiting there, for their ship. I think that I read almost the entire book. People were from all over the state and were writing to the next people to come along.
I saw writings from people who lived very close to where I was from. Some just rambled; some wrote stories, and even poems. Most however just wrote about their neighborhoods and their families and friends. I think that by the time they were there at that Port they were very anxious to get home.
The one thing that really astonished me however was how old the posts were. I was in my twenties and to me stuff written in the 1950`s was amazingly old. I mean some of the posts were more than 2 decades old.
I wrote in my post “I cannot believe how old some of these messages are!” It really seemed to me that there was a great chasm in time between those other posters and myself. At the time I had not seen America for a couple of years. I sure hope that those books are still there. I hope that some day some one gets to read them all.
My real point in all of this is this. That experience was more than two decades ago! I am now as far removed from our Military Overseas as those earlier posters were to me back then. Thinking about SAM and Tonk`s words really made me think. We are brothers. We have a connection.
Thanks again for the Canteen Snow

[GatorGirl]

Hello FRiends! (((((HUGS)))))))

I've missed you guys! Keepin' the faith down here in Florida, though. God Bless our Troops! Love, GG

[MeekOneGOP]

You're welcomed !

[MeekOneGOP]

Drizzant, drazzant, druzzant drone.....
Time for this one to come home.

Or sompin' like that. G'night, folks !

[4TheFlag]

Hey there GG, we've missed you too:( I hope things are well with you, always thinking of ya....;)

[redhead]

Just wanted to let you know that I thought "CANTEEIACS" was a PERFECT name for us denizens of this establishment. I vote "Yes!"

[SAMWolf]

Radix, that connection is there no matter where you served, how you served or when you served.

The Minuteman in 1776 has a connection to the Special Forces soldier fighting in Afghanistan.

That connection is everyone who has ever served in the United States Military.

Each of us is a link in the chain that connects that Minuteman of over 200 years ago to the soldier in Afghanistan today.

My 2 cents worth.

[Kathy in Alaska]

All is well here. Glad to see you and that all is right. Tap tap tap.....counting down for you. LOL! ((HUG))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep well, Meekie. Thank you for the hot chocolate. God bless you good.

[GatorGirl]

Hi Redhead, hope you're well tonite in you little car. Check your freepmail in a few....

[Dubya]

Thanks to all our Vets and Snow Bunny.

[GatorGirl]

I'm glad. I've missed you, I've been so busy with my various projects and of course I'll have a million things to do before the homecoming so everything is "just right". Looks like y'all have been having a good time around here lately. Can't wait to get back and have more time to play...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi redhead, does seem to apply, doesn't it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hehehe! You get special dispensation. There are a couple important things on your mind.