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!

[Soaring Feather]

Hi Troops! USO Canteen is......

[Light Speed]

Move Fast...Strike hard....U.S.Army/U.S.Marine Corp M1A1/A2 Abrams MBT

[tomkow6]

Did I tell a joke today?

I don't think so.........

Can I tell a joke?

Am I going CRAZY??

I don't think so.........

....................snicker..........snicker.........

......help me..........help me.......

Now, for TODAY's joke: Two guys walk into a bar......................

The third guy ducks!

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!!!!!!

Can I tell a joke here?

[BringingUpPatriots]

You got me giggling something silly!

[larryjohnson]

Welcome to our USO

[Radix]

Take me out to the ballgame.





http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/275/sports/In_Afghanistan_sandlot_diplomacyP.shtml

[tomkow6]

You got me giggling something silly!

WHY? I didn't do nothin'!

You think I'm Krazy?..................snicker........hahahahahahahahah..........

...........hello?.........hello?....

TOMKOW6 calling the mother ship..........do you read?..........

Gotta try & get back in controllllllllllllll..........

...........hello?.........hello?....

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi Diagonal FRiend. October 7, 2002, 2:30, 10:30 for me.

I will be thinking real hard about you and your reunion. I'm so glad you will be a complete family, if even for just a little while. And a huge THANK YOU to your hubby for his service to our country.

[kneezles]

Hiya Buppy, just a quick hello ot all before I head out in the plant. Our internet provider at home is down so Sassy can't get on and she's called them three times today and yelled at them! Tomorrow it's my turn if it's still down. Hope you're having a great day! Be sure and tell everyone Howdy for us!

God Bless our troops

God Bless our President

Gdo bless the Canteen

[tmprincesa]

AntiJen, Yes we have an ROTC. I know most of the members and Capt. O'Neil very well. They're the nicest and most polite guys I run into on campus. Of course I was also dating the ROTC guys in High School, LOL.

I can print out one of the Canteen threads and pass it on to Capt O'Neil. I think it's an excellent idea. These guys may only be in College but they are away from home and might enjoy seeing how some people appreciate the Military.

Tomkow6, you're the crazy guy. I love your jokes but you really should wash that burka, I don't see how the girls put up with the aroma. LOL!

Snow Bunny, Gator Girl thank you for adding me to your ping lists, you sure are a friendly bunch!

68-69tonkingulfyatchclub, I know you give flowers to all the girls, I'm honored that you would include me so quickly.

Samwolf, thanks for the welcome. Better late than never, right? Actually, Kathy in Alaska is such a great one person Welcoming Committee you don't have to worry about someone falling between the cracks.

P.S. AntiJen, I'm a female.

I'm sorry I have to be a hit and run poster. I get to read most of the posts though. You sure seem to enjoy yourselves here.

I do! My Dad, my uncle and both Grandfathers.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi, Middie, glad you could stop in to the USO Canteen today. Every day we honor our troops, our veterans, their families, and our allies. We get emails telling how they enjoy having a place to come, put their feet up, relax, hear some jokes, read some history, grab a snack, have a dance, or just enjoy each others company in the limited online time they have. I hope you can join us.

I, too Sir, thank you for your service to our country in the USAF.

[BringingUpPatriots]

Hey there, Kneezles! Sorry to hear about the technical difficulties! Heck hath no fury like a Patriot without her/his USO Canteen!

I'll be running along shortly as it's potluck and music night at church.

I'll fiddle one for you, Troops! Have a good night and hugs to Sassy when you see her! See ya' later, Canteeners! BUPPY

[Kathy in Alaska]

Linda, thank you so much for today's history. And Sam, thank you to your Dad for his fight for freedom in the Warsaw Uprising.

[radu]

Hmmmmmm. Maybe we could try a little shock therapy?

[radu]

BATH!!!

If that doesn't shock the "voices" into submission, I don't reckon anything will. heehee!

[Dubya]

Thanks for the ping.
*Ploughing at Night*

A husband and wife were driving down a country lane on their way to
visit some friends. They came to a muddy patch in the road and the car
became bogged. After a few minutes of trying to get the car out by
themselves, they saw a young farmer coming down the lane, driving some
oxen before him.

He stopped when he saw the couple in trouble and offered to pull the car
out of the mud for $50. The husband accepted and minutes later the car
was free.

The farmer turned to the husband and said, "You know, you're the tenth
car I've helped out of the mud today."

The husband looks around at the fields incredulously and asks the
farmer, "When do you have time to plough your land? At night?"

"No," the young farmer replied seriously, "Night is when I put the water
in the hole"

[radu]

tmprincesa, it's so nice to know there are young people who are so supportive of our troops. It gives me a ray of hope for the younger generation....at least some of you. :-))

Victoria, you sure popped my eyes open last night! I had no idea you were so young.

Hmmmm. I've checked out several profile pages; guess I need to check out EVERYbody's, huh? LOL!!

[SAMWolf]

The number of men manning those guns is amazing.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Light Speed! Who let it out that I love Armor!?

[SAMWolf]

Hi Kathy. Too bad that most Americans don't learn about the part of WWII that doesn't involve the U.S..

Hell they barely learn the part that does include the U.S.