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]

Hi there! I saw some of your posts from yesterday's thread when I was trying to get caught up on what went on while I was out yesterday.

It's wonderful to have someone as young as you in our group! My daughter is 20 and is a college student too and she loves her country and our troops and veterans just like you do. I'm so glad to know that 'some' of our young people have the right values!!! :-) There are probably many more out there that we just don't hear about because the stinking liberal media focuses on the America-haters instead of those like you!

Is there an ROTC group at your school? That would be a good group to let know about the Canteen! Maybe you could print up some of the Canteen business cards to hand out or a flyer to post on some bulletin boards. We'd sure appreciate the help in publicizing the Canteen and getting more of you youngsters to join our crazy crew here!

Have a great day! I'm so glad you are part of the Canteen. (I have to ask you if you are male or female. It's just a little wierd thing about me that I need to know that.)

[tomkow6]

Oh, Noooooooooo!! I'm getting that urge again!!!!!

I......I.......I can't control it..........

How do crazy people go through the forest?
They take the psycho path.

How do you get holy water?
Boil the hell out of it.

What do Eskimos get from sitting on the ice too long?
Polaroids.

What do prisoners use to call each other?
Cell phones.

What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?
A stick.

What do you call cheese that isn't yours?
Nacho Cheese.

What do you call Santa's helpers?
Subordinate Clauses.

What do you call four bull fighters in quicksand?
Quatro sinko.

What do you get from a pampered cow?
Spoiled milk.

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
Frostbite.

What has four legs, is big, green, fuzzy, and if it fell out of a tree would kill you?
A pool table.

What is a zebra?
26 sizes larger than an "A" bra.

What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A nervous wreck.

What's the difference between an oral thermometer and a rectal thermometer?
The taste.

What's the difference between roast beef and pea soup?
Anyone can roast beef.

Where do you find a no legged dog?
Right where you left him.

Where do you get virgin wool from?
Ugly sheep.

Why are there so many Johnsons in the phone book?
They all have phones.

Why do bagpipers walk when they play?
They're trying to get away from the noise.

Why do gorillas have big nostrils?
Because they have big fingers.

[tomkow6]

our crazy crew here...

I resemble that remark!

[Soaring Feather]

Thank you Snow Bunny.


Blessing on all coming into this room.

[Soaring Feather]

The flowers are so very beautiful.

Thank you USO Canteen men and military men!

Blessings on you.

[#3Fan]

Good one!

[Jen]

Misty! Misty! Misty! I've missed you sooooooooooo much! Gosh it's so good to see you!!! I know you are busy taking care of your Uncle and mom and all the other things going on in your life. But I'm so glad you could take a break from all that and visit with us for awhile. The troops have missed you - and your great legs too. ;-)

Glad you like the business cards and I'm not a bit surprised that you have your own creative ideas! hahahaha! You go girl! The main thing is to get the Canteen logo and the FR web address on them so troops will know where to go and how to find us when they get to FR.

I'm so excited about this too! What if all the Canteeners and lurkers handed out at least 10 apiece? Could you imagine how quickly the Canteen would grow! And more important than that - how all those troops and veterans would feel when someone honors them personally and tells them about a place where there are people who love and respect them!!! WOW!

[Jen]

YES, you do!!! hahahaha Good morning you wild man!

[Johnny Gage]

Jen: What a wonderful idea. I'm gonna create a bunch of those, just as soon as I can get some card stock.

Hi Misty.. LTNS!

Good morning everyone!!!!!!!!!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND OUR VETERANS!

Time Out: 08:38
KMG-365

[Mudboy Slim]

Muchas Gracias, mi amigo...I'm test-marketing a younger generation of Patriotic Rockers!!

LOL and FReegards...MUD

[SAMWolf]

Your Sacrific - Our Future

Thank you, Troops and Veterans

[SAMWolf]

Hey Antijen! Is Tom going crazy or what?

[Jen]

Thank you Cote. I am so excited about Tom's idea!!

I have to tell you guys about an experience I had a couple weeks ago. My daughter and I went to Florida for the weekend to go to a college football game. Well, the next morning we were having breakfast at Waffle House and there was a sign on the door that said breakfast was free for any military or veterans in uniform.

We get to our table, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a man with a cammo shirt and hat sitting at the counter with a couple other people. I had printed out some Canteen cards and had some in my purse. :-) So, I got one out and wrote my screenname on it and "Come visit" and walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

Boy did he look surprised. I asked if he was a veteran and he said he was and I told him I was too and thanked him for serving our country. Then I gave him the Canteen card and told him briefly about FR and our Canteen and invited him to come for a visit.

I was a little nervous walking over to talk to him, but the nervousness disappeared soon as I opened my mouth! hahahaha

He said "thank you" and that was about all and I went back to my table. On his way out of the restaurant he stopped by my table and said thanks again. I hope I made that man's day and gave him a little of the honor and recognition he deserves! And I hope he visits.

Hey, veteran I met at Waffle House in Thomasville, GA!!! If you're lurking - it was me!! Hi!! Welcome! Sign on and say hello!

[Jen]

Going? I think he's long gone! hehehe

[tomkow6]

AM NOT!!!!!!!!!!

or am I?

..........snicker..........giggle............hello?.hello?

[Jen]

Hi Colleen! It's wonderful to see you here. I've missed you!

[SAMWolf]

Yeah I thibnk Old Tom is:

One green maraschino cherry short of a fruitcake
A few bricks shy of a load
Not playing with a full deck
A few sandwiches short of a picnic
His elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor
The porch light's on, but no one is home
Off his rocker
Not quite all there
Lost his marbles
2 palm trees short of an oasis
A burger short of a Happy Meal
Somethin' ain't stirrin' the Kool-Aid
2 colors short of a rainbow
One beer shy of a six-pack
Knitting with only one needle
Got all the furniture, but in the wrong rooms
All systems go, but going in different directions
A few seesaws short of a playground

[SAMWolf]

Welcome to the Canteen. Sorry I didn't get to it sooner but it looks like Kathy and the others had your Welcome covered.

Nice to see some younger people supporting the Troops.

[Jen]

Good morning Johnny! Are you giving helicopter rides and tours today???

I just made a fresh pot of strong coffee. Anybody want some? I can probably scrounge up a bagel or English muffin if anybody's hungry.