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!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi, good to see you. Thank you for your beautiful post. You are so kind, thank you again.

[Snow Bunny]

ROTFLMHO......OH nooooooo....please don't get under control. Let the voices flow freely.......ROTFL....LOVE ya Burka Man.... heh heh

[ladyinred]

You are soooo Funny! Thanks for always keeping everyone up to date on what is happening in Israel!

To our troops, past and present, and future! A great big thank you, and as SevenofNine says:

RACK IT!!!!!!

We love our men and women in uniform!!!!

[radu]

Need to head out to get a longer cable for the 'puter. I'll be back in a bit. Cya soon. :-))

[Radix]

I posted an article on FR for the first time ever tonight.

You never forget your first post!


I sort of guessed my way through it.

Ultimately I`ll figure it out, and I will become more comfortable in my posting.

LindaSog actuall posted some pictures to it but I cannot find them. (The Yahoo site seems to be off line.).


I do not anticipate that I`ll be posting too many articles here. The reason being is there are just too many people out here who never seem to sleep. Those folks also seem to read and post faster than I ever could.

[Snow Bunny]

Fantastic Light Speed, thank you soooo much for these fabulous photos.
(((((( hug )))))

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Larry

((((((((((((( hug )))))))))))))

You do? How fantastic, that is so neat that you see Eagles. I got your freep mail too thank you and I forwarded your messaged. Great idea.

[Snow Bunny]

WOW , Hi Aomagrat, thank you for showing us the USS Minneapolis . My gosh 18 Battle Stars! Tah dah.

Thank you sooooo much
(((((((( hug ))))))

[Snow Bunny]

I agree with you MOJO, and thank you for your beautiful post too. Prayers for those protecting the Holy Land.

[Kathy in Alaska]

tom, is your funny bone ok? You are on a tear. Lots of LOLing and emailing to share. Thanks for all your efforts for our troops. They tell us each week at Mail Call how much they are enjoyed. Good job and thank you, too, for your service to our country.

[Snow Bunny]

OH wow, I have to see it Radix. Be right back and I am goingi to go to it right now. That is wonderful!!!!!!

Everyone has their first time. You should have seen me when I did a thread the very first time, I did not even sleep the night before. Then I kept counting to 10 before I could click on the actual POST button, then I counted to 10 again and again. Then put my mouse on it ,closed my eyes and said out loud....OK it is show time. hahahahaha

Love ya Radix.

[Snow Bunny]

ok, see you later Radu, hurry back.giggle

[Snow Bunny]

A big Amen to that.. heh heh

[MoJo2001]

Tomkow, you are such a genius!! Don't worry! I won't share that information with anyone. We wouldn't want anyone to think you are funny and a genius! It would ruin you forever, my friend!!LOL!

Kathy!! How are you this evening?? It's great to see you!! I'll be freeping you in a second. Also, has a packaged arrived yet?? I hope so!

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you again Jen for this wonderful thread about the USO Canteen FReeper Style business card to hand out when thanking Vets and those serving and to get the word out about the Canteen and FR supporting the troops.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Buppy so good to see you. Thanks for being here. I am counting the days till the 9th when we get together again. tah dah. yipeee

[Snow Bunny]

A beautiful evening to you Bentfeather, thank you so much for the fantastic Prayer of protection poem for the troops. Great to see you my friend.

[Snow Bunny]

Jen, I am so glad you post the Hero post everyday. Thank you so much!!!!!

[MoJo2001]

Happy Birthday For All of Our Troops That Are Celebrating One Far From Home!!

Please know that you will not be spending this birthday alone. It's an honor that you would spend it with us!! Happy Birthday!! CLICK ON THE CAKE!!!

[Snow Bunny]

It was wonderful Radix!!!!! Thank you so much for your thread.
You did great Radix.