USO Canteen FReeper Style - "Thank You Troops and Veterans" - Oct. 2, 2002

Snow Bunny and friends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style

[Jen]

Part of our mission at the USO Canteen FReeper Style every day is to show our gratitude and respect for members of our military and veterans who have honorably served our country.

An experience by Tomkow6 sparked the idea for the Canteen members and lurkers to have an official "Thank Our Troops and Veterans" program. Several months ago on his way to work, Tomkow6 met a young Marine in uniform in a convenience store. Tomkow6 extended his hand to the Marine and thanked him for wearing the Marine uniform and for serving our country. The Marine seemed shocked that someone would thank him and want to shake his hand.

"This was a small thing that I did," Tom said, "and I hope I made that young Marine feel a little prouder about that uniform he had on, and what he was doing in it. I know I felt proud, just seeing him in uniform, serving his and OUR country, and knowing that he and others like him are out there, in the "all volunteer" US Forces, protecting our nation; to let them know that THEY are NOT forgotten; that there are citizens of the US that are very proud of them and what they are doing; that they are prayed for daily; that they WILL NOT have to suffer the shame that was heaped on my brothers and sisters returning from Vietnam; that they are our HEROES!"

So today the Canteen is kicking off an official program and a challenge to all Canteeners and lurkers to personally thank a service member or veteran when you see him or her. To make that a little easier and to help publicize the Canteen, we've created a business card that can be handed out after you greet the person and thank him for serving.

Snow Bunny wrote Free Republic's founder and owner Jim Robinson about our plan and desire to use the FR web address on it and got his approval on June 18.

When you see a member of the US Forces, go out of your way to shake his or her hand and say "Thanks for being there and putting on that uniform, and serving our country" or something similar, then hand out a Canteen business card and invite them to visit. That's all there is to it.

It's a simple thing that can have huge benefits in the lives of our troops and veterans who can never be thanked often enough for the sacrifices they make to defend our country.

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U.S. Coast Guard Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Michael Walker of Havre de Grace, M.D., U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Andrew Amor of Grain Valley, M.D., U.S. Navy Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist Christopher Roades of Eureka, Calif., U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Damian Wright of Idalia, Col., and First Sergeant Curtis O'Neal of Tuskegee, Ala., all have deployed to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom and are participants in the Pentagon Sept. 11 Observance Ceremony.

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The cards could also be placed under the windshield wiper of a car that has a bumper sticker or tag that indicates the driver is a military member or veteran. Or handed out in VA hospitals, VFWs, commissaries, BX/PX, wherever troops or veterans would gather.

Another great group of people to thank for their service and tell about the Canteen are military recruiters as Bluesagewoman has done so recently. Since they come into contact with the men and women who will become our country's newest military members, they are an ideal group to honor and help promote the Canteen.

Below are some business cards which can be copied and pasted into a Word document template for Avery business cards #8371. You can buy the perforated business card sheets and print your own cards, or have them printed at a copy center. You may have to change the font size if the text over-laps on the perforations on the pre-formed business card stock from Avery.

You may also want to take the liberty of "customizing" a little bit by adding your FR screenname, so the person you give the card to will know who to look for when they visit the Canteen.

If you would like to receive a ready-to-print template, send your email address by freepmail to AntiJen and she will email it to you.

Tomkow6 also created a small poster to put up in some of the local stores in his town that have community bulletin boards.

Thank you Tomkow6 for your wonderful idea!

[Jen]

I'm excited about Flagman's new position too Misty. Sometimes when bad things happen to good people, God uses that experience in a way that we could never imagine to bring good things into our lives. That has certainly happened for Flagman and GooberDoll AND for the USO Canteen FReeper Style. We're going international! Woo Hoo!!!

God bless Flagman, GooberDoll, our troops, veterans and all our allies!

[BringingUpPatriots]

GOOD MORNING!!! (((((((((TROOPS)))))))))))))))

(((((((((((((((CANTEENERS)))))))))))))))))


How is everybody doing??????????????????

LOVE and HUGS,
BUPPY (Feeling very much the SLAYER MODE today)

[Mudboy Slim]

Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I?!!"
(To be sung to Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I")

What good am I...if I'm like all the rest?
If I just turn away...when Slick's slaughterin' kids...
If I shut myself off...sit 'n' bitch, moan, and whine...
What...good...am...I?!

Why, tell me why...won't the Press tell the Truth?
'Bout Slick's deal with Beijing...'bout the Dead Slick's thugs shoot?
Should I just drink my beer...forget Slick's TREASON and his LIES?!
Whose...FOOL...am...I?!

What good am I...if I fail to FReep?!
Should I lay down in bed...try to restlessly sleep?
When I've seen Waco pictures...children carelessly FRIED...
What...good...am...I?!

Do I tell my kids...that Dad failed the FRee?!
FOLKS, WE MUST MAKE OUR STAND...LET'S DETHRONE WILLIE!!!
Prosecute all Slick's crimes...let's send Bill to Prison!!
McAuliffe'll RESIGN...Then, We'll RE-IMPEACH!!!

What good am I...if I bless foolish things?
If I cower in the face of...Vile Tyranny?!
Shall I just turn my back...while our Liberties die?!
I...would...rather...die!!

Mudboy Slim

Yo...FReepers!!

The 26th of October 2002 is set in stone fer somewhere in DeeCee as the DeeCee FReepers convene again...Bring yer own beverages, lawn chairs, picnic lunches, whatever...and enjoy an afternoon of patriotic speeches, patriotic music, and full-fledged, 100% Clinton-bashin' and GeeDubyuh Praisin'!!!

RE-IMPEACH. CONVICT. DETHRONE.

More details to follow.....

Patriotic FReegards...MUD

1 Posted on 08/03/2000 08:21:55 PDT by Mudboy Slim

[Mudboy Slim]

Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I?!!"
(To be sung to Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I")

What good am I...if I'm like all the rest?
If I just turn away...when Slick's slaughterin' kids...
If I shut myself off...sit 'n' bitch, moan, and whine...
What...good...am...I?!

Why, tell me why...won't the Press tell the Truth?
'Bout Slick's deal with Beijing...'bout the Dead Slick's thugs shoot?
Should I just drink my beer...forget Slick's TREASON and his LIES?!
Whose...FOOL...am...I?!

What good am I...if I fail to FReep?!
Should I lay down in bed...try to restlessly sleep?
When I've seen Waco pictures...children carelessly FRIED...
What...good...am...I?!

Do I tell my kids...that Dad failed the FRee?!
FOLKS, WE MUST MAKE OUR STAND...LET'S DETHRONE WILLIE!!!
Prosecute all Slick's crimes...let's send Bill to Prison!!
McAuliffe'll RESIGN...Then, We'll RE-IMPEACH!!!

What good am I...if I bless foolish things?
If I cower in the face of...Vile Tyranny?!
Shall I just turn my back...while our Liberties die?!
I...would...rather...die!!

Mudboy Slim

Yo...FReepers!!

The 26th of October 2002 is set in stone fer somewhere in DeeCee as the DeeCee FReepers convene again...Bring yer own beverages, lawn chairs, picnic lunches, whatever...and enjoy an afternoon of patriotic speeches, patriotic music, and full-fledged, 100% Clinton-bashin' and GeeDubyuh Praisin'!!!

RE-IMPEACH. CONVICT. DETHRONE.

More details to follow.....

Patriotic FReegards...MUD

1 Posted on 08/03/2000 08:21:55 PDT by Mudboy Slim

[stand watie]

!!!!

[Jen]

You have freepmail. {{{HUG}}} Good morning.

[Mudboy Slim]

See ya on the 26th, mi amigo?!

FReegards...MUD

[Kathy in Alaska]

Morning Seven, thanks for keeping us up to date on what's going on in Israel. Our "media" doesn't seem to see any news. Yep, snow is about half way down the mountains this morning. Snow level about 1500'.

Hopes for more smackdowns. Go IDF. Go Israel.

[Jen]

I agree! The idea of the Thank Our Troops and Veterans program was originated by Tomkow6! THANKS Tom for your great idea!!!

Mid Missouri Patriots ROCK! And we know how much the troops love you guys and gals!

[SevenofNine]

OHH Kathy WINTER TIME

I just check out Canadian story eh

After trade off between Canadian dollar system to US

We only get two beaver hats, canoe

Case of Molson beer

We got hosed on this deal

[stand watie]

i still can't figure out how we missed each other?????

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

YEP! i'll be there with my "arab-looking flag"!

free the southland,sw

[BringingUpPatriots]

I LOVE IT! AMEN! HALLELUJAH!!

I can't make it there on that date, but I'll be there in spirit to be sure!

Jen, when are you coming out to LV? Our recent get-together with Sassy, Kneezles, Snow Bunny and Fall Guy has me addicted to Canteen Klatches! Buppy

[Mudboy Slim]

"Black"
(To be sung to Pearl Jam's "Black")

Ahhh-aiiggghhh...yeh...yeah-ahhh!!

Sleepy shady campsite...lovely FReepin' day...
Tanned legs spread out before me...sun-drenched body shined wet.
Lo...Beauty from the Heavens...I revolved around her Sun.
[MUD's Earth to Jewel's Sun]
Her warm scent I gasped, then I breathed...girrrrl's makin' me burn!!
Ooooohh...o'er and o'er, I told the girl..."Kids can dream!!"
Ooooohh...o'er and o'er, Jewel begged of MUD, "Love Meeeee, BOY!!"
But MUD's gotta better half...with whom MUD lays down...
GOODBYE...my FRagile flame!!
Girl, Lib'ralism's DEAD!!
Nation, washed with blood...LIES, the Lib'ral's Shame...

I'll take the watch tonite...Left's surrounded by TYRANTS and HATE!!
I still hear Slick's laughter...Bill LIES to hisself.
Ohhhh...all Left's twisted thoughts I sing...SlixMYbitch!!
I'm spinnin'...ohhhh, MUD's grinnin'...)8^D!!
How quick the floor can...drop away-ay-ay-ay!!!!
God Bless my bitten land...must kick some Righteous A$$...
Fer what Left's done to the FRee!!
Ohhh...Left's B!+(# is bad...Medyuh watched and fled...
IGNORED everything...
Ohhh...the Left's ALL BAD...turned OUR world to Black...
SLAUGHTERED 'bout all I see...All that I am...All I'll Beeeeee...YEAH!!!!

Un hunh...un hunh...woo...

I know someday, Jewel'll make a beautiful wife...
I know she'll be MY Star...
But somebody else must Show Some Spine!! IT'S TIME!!
JUSTICE BE THINE!!!!!!
How can it be?! It Shan't be!!
Muuuuuuuuuuuuud...AH HA AHHH!! Oooh...ah yeah...YEAH!!

Doo dah doo doo doodie doo...
Doo dah doo doo doodie doo...
Doo dah doo doo doodie doo...
Doo dah doo doo doodie doo...
Doo dah doo doo doodie doo...

Mudboy Slim and the Centaurs (9/18/01)...one week A.W.T.C.

What's another good Pearl Jam song I can FReep?!

FReegards...MUD

[Kathy in Alaska]

Lizma, thank you for starting the "Support Our Troops" with the USO at your kids school. It is so important that our kids understand why they have the freedoms they enjoy.

....but my major goal this season is to have my fellow Marylanders never hear the name Kathleen Kennedy Townsend again.

May you attain your goal!!

[Jen]

Unauthorized Activity

This one is a genuine hoot. It was an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan.

Wait till you read this guy's response.......but read the letter before you get to the response........

***************************

Mr. Ryan DeVries

SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2002.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative Land and Water Management Division

*******************

This is the actual response sent back........

Dear Mr. Price,

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County.

Your certified letter dated 12/17/01 has been handed to me to respond to.

First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal Landowner and/or Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.

While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris."

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.

I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect.

In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams.).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!)

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

Sincerely,

Stephen L.Tvedten

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you for my morning hot chocolate. You and Carl are so thoughtful.

[BringingUpPatriots]

Thank you, Linda for what you do on here! I love your history posts. It is something I look forward to each time I visit. Even though I feel behind in catching up on posts half the time, I need and love my history lessons!!!! Gratefully, BUPPY