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!

[SAMWolf]

Victoria, come on out and play!

[MoJo2001]

Thank you for a wonderful thread!! It is such an honor to have the opportunity and the freedom to honor all of those wonderful Veterans worldwide that have paid the price for our freedom. Too often, we only care about our Veterans during holidays in this country. It is a priviledge to be a part of a group of wonderful people that see to it that they are honored each and everyday. Thank you for the opportunity, experience, and the priviledge.

God Bless our Veterans! To those that seek to destroy us, we are backed in our country by the blood, sweat, tears, and determination of an unstoppable moving force...VETERANS!!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi, just got my cappuccino and am so glad to be here. Love you all.

[SAMWolf]

Marines say several parachute lines cut before jump

CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina - Suspension lines on 13 parachutes were cut before a training exercise last month, forcing three jumpers to use their reserve chutes, the Marine Corps said.

The tampering was discovered Sept. 21 when five Marines jumped from a C-17 aircraft during heavy equipment parachute training at Camp Lejeune.

Three parachutes malfunctioned and the jumpers used reserve chutes to land safely, a statement from the Marines said.

An inspection showed the lines of the three parachutes had been cut in a way to avoid detection, the statement said.

At least nine other chutes still packed and waiting on the shelves in warehouses were found with similar problems.

It was unclear where the 13th sabotaged parachute was found. A call to the Camp Lejeune public affairs office was not returned.

Marine investigators and agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are looking for a possible saboteur. There have been no arrests.

I say if they catch the low-life #&#@*&7@% that did this that they be locked in a room with those Marines.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi MOJO, good to see you.
I hope you had a wonderful day.I just posted at a thread about the phony's Bonner etc.how they lied and said they had fought in Nam, IN Nam and they never made it to Nam when they served. Gawd I hate dems. hahahhaaa I am still so angry I think I should spike my cappuccino.ROTFL

Beamer & Snow Bunny

[MoJo2001]

Our prayer protection for the troops is so wonderful. There are few places in real life and internet life that so proudly displays the importance of prayer. It is a powerful gift given by God. I still believe that it is the most wonderful gift my parents shared with me---besides my actual flesh and blood existence. Praise Be To God for the power of prayer!!

[SAMWolf]

Hi Snow Bunny!

[MoJo2001]

Every morning you bring a smile and flowers to the face of so many of us in here. It is an honor, Sir!! Thank you for your thoughtfulness, kindness, and absolute charm. You are absolutely terrific. Don't ever forget it.

[Snow Bunny]

I agree, lock them in a room with them and let them beat them to a pulp and then start all over again. GRRRRRRRRR

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Sam, I am loaded for bear right now. ROTFL.....I just pinged you to a thread about Bonner and I can't stop being mad. sorry. hahahahahaa

I need to go out back of the Canteen and break a few clay pots or something. hahahahaha

[MoJo2001]

God Bless our Israeli Defence Forces. May God protect each and every member that protects the Holy Land from those that would seek to destroy not only the foundation that was promised to His people, but to His people in general.

Many people don't realize the history of the Jewish people and the Jewish state, but I'll take their over 3500 years of perserverance, determination, spirituality, and history any day. Shalom!

Just a little side note: I want to send my deepest sympathies to the family of the soldier killed, Ari Weiss. He was American born and his family made aliya about 10 years ago. This young man came from a wonderful family and I pray that God would pour his blessings to his family, the soldiers he served with, and the people he saved. Rest In Peace, Ari!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Radu good to see you.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi my dear friend, I am so glad you are here.
(((((((( hug ))))))

Snow Bunny

[MoJo2001]

Whoa! When you have the Diva of the Troops riled, YOU BETTA WATCH OUT!! There's nothing that would fix men like that then to be on the receiving end of the anger from our cherished and honored Vietnam Vets.

[Snow Bunny]

One U.S. soldier was killed and another injured today after a bomb went off outside a Philippine military facility, said a DoD spokesperson.

Prayers for his family.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you MOJO,I love the Prayer for Protection for the troops too.I am so glad your here.

[Snow Bunny]

LOL....Hi Dubya, good to see you.Thanks so much.

[radu]

Hi Snow Bunny. I'm sitting here while my hubby messes with e computer. We FINALLY got the satellite hooked up today but haven't loaded all the software. Soon I'll get to play with our new toy. Ooooooh boy! Good grief, it's so fast!