USO Canteen FReeper Style Monday Mail Call ....... October 21,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ The Troops and Snow Bunny ~

[Snow Bunny]

. . . Tribute To HEROES . While the dogtag is used to provide information on an individual serviceman, I also believe that the chain which holds them represents a connection to all servicemen, no matter where you served, how you served or when you served. . The Minuteman in 1776 has a connection to the soldier fighting in Afghanistan today. That connection is every individual who has ever served in the United States Military. Each of us represents a link in the chain that connects that Minuteman of over 200 years ago to the soldier in Afghanistan today. SAMWolf . . Tribute to Vietnam Veterans Please click on picture. . The great intangible of America's wars beyond logistics, beyond strategy, beyond wonder weapons and Generals, is the spiritual force of its fighting men and women - and that is the force that the USO so serves. . Free Republic....Click for Donations . Partners . .To Jim Robinson, Founder of FRee Republic and Navy Veteran Thank you, from all those who frequent the FReeper Canteen .

[Snow Bunny]

The Purpose of the USO Canteen FReeper Style

Recognizing the cost of Freedom is what the Canteen is all about

I want to take you to a place , the weather is hot, beyond hot and sticky too .It is like wearing a scuba suit and pouring hot caro syrup down inside of it. You give up wiping the sweat off your face and arms because it does not do any good.You learn to own it, the heat and humidity, the stickiness. Own it and become it. Then it is bareable......almost.

A boy really but a man because of the war is laying in a hospital in a bed . Not a hospital like we know, this is make shit . He has his right leg gone, pieces of it left in the jungle. His other leg missing just above the knee. His right hand gone as well. His shoulder a huge chunk gone so even with bandages the deformaity is obvious. His face, he may have been a great looking hearthrob in the past, maybe a girl kissed his tender cheek on a date and his soft lips lingering for just one more kiss at the door. But now it was like mashed potatoes. The only thing noticable ........his eyes. The thousand yard stare was there, but behind them the clear sharp sight of what had happened. And the doubt of what his future held for him if any.

You take his one hand left and sit for hours, just being. Trying to let him know you care. The touch is all the words that need to be said. Then you start to hum a song softly and the hand in yours tightens a little for approval. Then the words of the song , and ever so gently you sing, music from your heart right into his.

He is a Hero just as the soldier at the desk at the base is a hero . All willing to serve their country and keep their land the land of the free.

Maybe both of these heroes, the wounded and the soldier at the desk had a chance to smile today or yesterday or laugh right out loud and for just a moment in time forget they were far from their loved ones, forget they were not watching a ballgame in their home or the comfort of their own bed. Maybe chuckling at the dolls and volcano and the tanks and Sam on Milk Carton,or Misty with the Beverly hillibillies,Magoo and Tomkow and Jinxie with their jokes, the 666 and one of us upside down......maybe that is their last belly laugh, maybe it is what makes the difference for them that moment in time.

[Snow Bunny]

[Snow Bunny]

[Snow Bunny]

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

[Snow Bunny]

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.

[Snow Bunny]

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Click on Beamer to go to thread for details of the USO Canteen FReeper Style
Business Card and How To's

[Snow Bunny]

Poor is the nation that has no heroes.
Shameful is the one that, having heroes - Forgets them!
from a monument on the Davis Bridge Battlefield, Bolivar,Tn.

We support our Canadian troops, our friends fighting the enemy with us.
Operation APOLLO is Canada's military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism.

Sergeant Kory Fisher of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI) Battle Group

[Snow Bunny]

I salute a Hero

[Snow Bunny]

 

[Snow Bunny]

A U.S. Marine does his laundry next to a bullet-ridden wall of the Marine compound dubbed "Camp Rhino" in southern Afghanistan

Individuals may donate $25 which goes toward sponsorship of a
"Operation USO Care Package"
Personal greetings may be included on a
note from you titled "Operation USO Care Package"

USO of Metropolitan Washington
Operation USO Care Package
PO Box 10835
Arlington, VA 22210

For further information (1-866-USO-GIVE)

"Operation USO Care Package
will continue for as long as our
country is at war," according to Elaine Rogers, USO-Metro President.

[Snow Bunny]

Operation APOLLO is Canada's military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism

Afghanistan Private West Prince takes up a defensive position behind his C-9 light machine-gun on the perimeter of Kandahar International Airport. Pte Prince is a member of 2 Platoon, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3PPCLI) Battle Group

[rockfish59]

A grim shot by Life photographer Larry Burrows.
But I know this is what my brother and 2 nephews went through!

Tribute to Burrows

[quietolong]

VETERANS please help: Looking for Info on Various Military Posts

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I happen to be awake, so I hope it's not too early to answer a little bit of that wonderful mail that came in! (I'm rather new around here, and I don't really know the protocol yet - but, here goes - someone please correct me if I've "jumped offsides".)

From Charney:

I feel like the Canteen is my home so I would like to welcome Daughter of An IwoJima Vet, she is the one known as Cap'n Duchess.

Why thank you, Charney! I was quite stunned to see your welcome, and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I'm having a lot of fun here, and it's great to know you are, too.

I started out just being "Duchess", a name a friend in the Coast Guard gave to me. The whole "Capt'n Duchess" thing is causing some controversy. I think Kathy is trying to figure out a way to pull off a mutiny (LOL Kathy!), but, undaunted, I had my uniform fitted and I'm ready to flex my muscles (or stripes, as it were). Heheh!

Please stay safe and write often. Each and every one of us has the utmost respect and admiration for you all, and we can't begin to thank you adequately for what you're doing for us. You are in our prayers.

If you need anything - food, music, a good read, a kind word - we will not fail you!

Warmly,
Capt'n Duchess ; )

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Bunny.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi my wonderful friend, thank you for your post, the photo and the link and what you wrote too.Very Powerful my friend.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi my friend, thank you so much. I went to the link and pinged some others to it.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi so good to see you. I love your post thank you so much for your writing like that. big smile. I can't believe I did not do a spell check on mine at the top.lol I fixed it so it should be ok for the next time. Thanks again for your wonderful post .

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Aeronaut, good to see you my friend. A BIG hug for you and Otto.
((((((( hug )))))))