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!

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks =^)

[JohnHuang2]

Belated good morning, Saint. lol

[JohnHuang2]

Buenos dias, hermano =^)

[JohnHuang2]

Why, thank you so much, friend -- glad to be back!

[Mudboy Slim]

"sounds like a winner to me!"

The 26th of October in DeeCee, it is then!! Wonder if any ol' FRiends will show up?!

FReegards...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"...thank you for coming to the Canteen."

You know I always enjoy my visits here, my FRiend.

"I have to get to the pings you sent me, probably late tonight. hahaaha I am way beind right now."

I know the feeling...gonna be hectic from here until 5 November...take care.

Utmost FReegards...MUD

[SevenofNine]

Light did you read on Debka?

I think I saw same report off Debka

I love Debka RACK ITTTT

Well report off AP wire is reporting this morning that Israelis troops are planning miltary exercise and planning put Arafat INTO EXILE


Not whack him

EXILE Arafat might be exile according to report

Also Jersrelum Post reporting that Mossad told then Clinton administration CIA that Binny was going start something

They reported that Bill too busy with Monica

[stand watie]

i'm sure they WILL!

free the southland,sw

[blackie]

Hello, 'Lil Darlin' !!

The RATS are in disarray...eradicate the rodents !!

Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

Death To all Tyrant's !!

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[LaDivaLoca]

THANKS!!! I will be trying it out and hopefully soon I will have some music added to my graphics! This is so cool! You ROCK, ladies!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I just posted a response on another thread. I came here to read what this one is about..and we are of like minds. If ya have a chance, give it a once over. We cannot let what happened to our Vietnam Vets EVER happen again. We worked to make sure of that during Desert Storm and always will.

God Bless you for bringing it up. Lets get to work on it!!!

I just checked the link, and it takes you to the first post. But just scroll down to the 339th post by me. My hackles are up... look out!!!


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/761886/posts?page=339#339

[#3Fan]

Must be your greatest hits. :^)

[#3Fan]

Thanks!

[Mudboy Slim]

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

You like "Porch", dude?! I like "Porch" and I think I'll FReep it this evening...MUD

[#3Fan]

You like "Porch", dude?! I like "Porch" and I think I'll FReep it this evening...MUD

If it's a new song, I don't know it. I've been busy the last year working on a couple of projects and haven't listened to anything besides my CDs, and since I'm in my thirties, they're getting dated. :^) My old job was an office job and I listened to the radio 6 hours a day. I'm getting behind. LOL

[Mudboy Slim]

Nawwww...Porch is off the same CD as Black and Jeremy...MUD

[#3Fan]

Nawwww...Porch is off the same CD as Black and Jeremy...MUD

I'm more of a happy rocker. :^) Pearl Jam is grungy, isn't it?

[Mudboy Slim]

Gotta go where the sinners are, my FRiend...MUD

[#3Fan]

Yep. :^)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House hummed along with this morning, twice because I love this song for our USO Canteen, and Prayer of Protection said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style, including our troops, our veterans, their families and our allies. Welcome to all who come to honor our troops, for whom this USO Canteen was created.

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you

The love of God enfold you

The power of God protect you

The presence of God watch over you

Wherever you are, God is,

And all is well.

Amen.

Wherever you are, God is, And all is well.

Thank you cote!