A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-29-02

DaisyScarlett and Billie | Written by daisyscarlett

[Billie]

Today is a Special Kind of FR's Finest, and a Special Kind of FReeper is in the spotlight. We know that you will agree when you read today's story.

~ DaisyScarlett and Billie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
patriciaruth
FReeper since 3-25-01

Central Valley California

Patriciaruth is shown here at a Fresno Support our Troops Rally last year with her dear FRiend, mtngrl@vrwc, who not only helped her get around in Fresno to order the silk for Operation Silk Scarves but also helped pay for the supplies initially.

A Patriciaruth Mini Bio:   Florida and California raised; B.S. in microbiology; VISTA Volunteer; medical technologist; post graduate work in neurophysiology; doctor of medicine; married 22 years to a savvy, funny and very sweet guy; AAFP member; NRA member; AUSA member; retired from family practice since disabled four years ago.

Patriciaruth enjoys the people who post on the Daily Dose as she is also a loyal supporter of President Bush. She especially appreciates being able to keep up with current events and join in the lively and informative discussions at FreeRepublic.

There is much more we could tell you about this Finest FReeper and perhaps we shall at a later date. But for now, she requested that her time In the Spotlight be shared with all FReepers who came through for our soldiers and "have every reason to be very proud of their certificate".

Patriciaruth, we are very proud of YOU, too.

Today we are very pleased to present A Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Defense to Free Republic.

This certificate was mailed to patriciaruth in specific appreciation for "Project Silk Scarves".

Patriciaruth and her Merry Band of Patriots (almost all of whom are FReepers) are largely responsible for Project Silk Scarves. However, Patriciaruth feels that this certificate should be shared with all members of FRee Republic who sent letters and care packages to our troops in the field last Christmas either through the projects she coordinated or on their own.

Our story begins in August of 2001. In patriciaruth's words:

"Project Kosovo Care Packages"

"When President Bush went to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo in May of 2001, I was ashamed to see how starved the soldiers were for appreciation from the people of the United States. They were in harm's way and had been given no news coverage or outpouring of gratitude from U.S. citizens as they deserved. So I started the project (Project Kosovo Care Packages) to let them know that they deserved to be remembered and they deserved our support and gratitude."

Patriciaruth appealed to fellow FRiends for help in an article posted on the FR Forum on 8-09-01... Project Kosovo.

The response was terrific. Soon FReepers were sending contributions and donations both to patriciaruth and directly to Kosovo. Patriciaruth wrote:

"Our care packages went to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo and were received by the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell, KY, and the 10th Mountain Division out of Ft. Drum in New York. Many of these soldiers went on to Afghanistan after receiving our care packages."

"Those care packages contained candy, videos, paperbacks, magazines, playing cards, and notes from school children, among other items. We sent over ten thousand pieces of Halloween and Christmas candy and hundreds of candy bars. We also sent over 100 videos and uncounted paperback books."

Some of these videos and paperback books are listed in the update link that patriciaruth posted on the FR Forum:

News From Kosovo 10-23-01

The response from Kosovo was rewarding. Here are some words of patriciaruth from the above link:

"The Chaplain at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo has kept me informed about the Care packages that we started sending to our troops before September 11 and continued to send afterwards. He said that the most appreciated gifts were candy bars (Snickers was a big hit) and movie videos."

This is part of a letter received from the Chaplain that Patriciaruth shared in the above link:

"What a great blessing you all are for sending those items...it is a tremendous hit with the soldiers - especially the videos...we are also looking forward to the Halloween stuff...and of course Snickers around here are like gold...I have to be careful and not walk around with the box itself or I will be tackled!"

FReepers who sent donations to patriciaruth included:   mawmaw1; tyen; MJY1288.

Some FReepers who sent individual Care Packages to Kosovo were:   kitkat; pissed off janitor; 2jedismom; Mama_Bear; Mntgrl@vrwc; Esther2; MadEagle; and Clintons are white trash.

Patriciaruth would also like to mention and thank Hillary's Lovely Legs who organized and sent many Care packages with the support of the Guild. (Note: The Guild will be highlighted at an upcoming date and their contribuions will be expounded on at that time. Additionally, though many FReepers were eager to join patriciaruth's efforts, it is equally important to mention that there are many FReepers who prefer to support the troops privately, and this in no way is to take away from those individuals.)

Project Silk Scarves

"Project Silk Scarves"

Since the feedback from the troops was fantastic and the response from FReepers enthusiastic, patriciaruth decided to do a special Holiday project. She wanted to send Christmas/Hannukkah/Kwanzaa presents for the troops in the field.

After a bit of thought and investigation, patriciaruth decided on Project Silk Scarves. Here is why she chose silk scarves:

"...., when I asked my cousin, now an army Colonel, what the troops might like for holiday presents, he said that the most appreciated gifts during the Gulf War were silk scarves that the troops wore under the LTB (load bearing equipment) to take the friction off the neck, shoulders and back while hiking to prevent chaffing. He suggested black, brown or camouflage for color as they wouldn't show the sweat or dirt so much, and silk because it is lightweight and warm for the coming winter. He recommended 18 x 48 inches."

Patriciaruth then went though "channels", requesting permission from the Army Officer that coordinated bulk mailings. She received this letter of permission:

"Good Afternoon (patriciaruth's real name): Your offer of 200 Silk Scarves is accepted."

"...Per my corresponding with my point of contact in theater...Command would like to distribute them to outlying sites pulling duty on holidays...."

"Please inform me when you are ready to ship the Scarves, and I will provide a Donation Number and the stateside ship to address."

Donations for Christmas.....11-14-01

The above link includes an appeal for help with Project Silk Scarves from FReepers. Here is some of what patriciaruth wrote:

"Now we are at the point where we have obtained enough silk for over 200 scarves and some lovely ladies in the rural town I live in are sewing the scarves, and they should be ready to send in 7-10 days."

"The black silk, high quality for durability, cost almost $2500. Mtngirl@vrwc and I have put it on our credit cards, and are now asking the ping list and anyone else who would like to join us for donations."

"If you would like to have one or more scarves sent in your name with your personal message to one or more soldiers in the field, or would like to join with someone else to send a scarf, then we need to hear from you in the next few days. Each scarf costs:   in fabric, hiring seamstresses, and postage, about $15."

On 11-25-01, patriciaruth once again appealed to FReepers and her Merry Band of Patriots.

Holiday FReepmail for Our Troops Needed

She wrote:

"I am hoping that many of you can immediately send me Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa or Happy Holidays cards with personal messages for the soldiers, family photo, child drawings, or other inventive flat/thin decoration with your name for me to include with the scarves. Each scarf will go in a ziplock bag for the soldier to store and keep it dry, and the cards and messages will go in the clear baggies with the decorative part showing. The baggies are 5 x 6 1/2 inches, so the holiday card should not be larger than that if it can't be folded."

"Contributions totalling around $3,000, as I recall, for the silk scarves Christmas project for our troops were made by these FReepers:

mtngrl@vrwc; jtill; 2jedismom; mama_bear; cantfindagoodscreenname; Kathy in Alaska; Kayak; swheats; esther2; materetmagistra; McGavin999; calypgin; OhioWfan; reaganite; Bigg Red; Cool Guy; Pray4USA; dodobird; Bruce Kurtz; MonroeDNA; Lakelady; katnip; JohnHuang2; dixielander; omegatoo; DixieChick2000; LiberteeBell; I be tc; SuziQ; COB1; ncpastor; zeaal; JustAmy; Yehuda; d4now; JulieRNR21; exit 148; deadhead; reborn; Alamo-Girl; potlatch; RottiBiz; bloodmeridian; Texan4W; MJY1288; jwalsh07; AquariusStar22; susangirl; Torie; Miss American Pie."

"And contributions were received from these Lurkers:

Jean in Mo, April in Texas, Dawn in Florida, JL from Texas, Marcia's family in northern CA, a firefighter in MI."

"Here are some other FReepers who helped in the success of Operation Silk Scarves:

GretchenEE; Brad's Gramma; CENTVRIO EQVITVM; katiebelle; rightonline; peach; tunehead54; sabertooth; fiftymegaton; Calico; proudofthesouth; LibKill; IowaGranny; 3D-JOY; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; homeschool mama; MozartLover; lonevoice; Doug from Upland; sweetliberty; Diver Dave; March I up; Snow Bunny; rockfish59; TheGrimReaper; snodog; Cannonball; Harpseal; Knighthawk; Reborn; lonevoice; Old Student; Fizzie; cowgirlcutie; proud American in Canada; Clintons Are White Trash; RaceBannon; WaterDragon; LJLucido; rodeocowboy; runningbear; SAMWolf; Clinton's a Liar; mlibertarianj; rottweiller_inc; Victoria DelSoul; afraidfortherepublic; getgoing; tiki; AbsoluteGrace; lockeliberty; xp38; Zeno44; PoorMuttly."

And now it gives us great pleasure to post this Certificate of Appreciation to Free Republic from the Department of Defense:

THANK YOU, PATRICIA RUTH
THANK YOU MERRY BAND OF PATRIOTS
THANK YOU FREEPERS WHO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

10-28-02 Salvation

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[jkphoto]

Thanks COB . . . you all are making it special rather than just another day at work.

JK

[jtill]

Billie, what a wonderful tribute to such a deserving patroit.

Patriciaruth, thank you for allowing me to participate in the Silk Scarves project!

[COB1]

You are special, jk, to everyone of us, and I hope you had a very special day!

Now I've got to leave and go to my Poll Watcher's class.
Catch y'all later!

[matrix]

While honoring our troops, remember they will all be veterans some day, if they make it. Some of these veterans will retire after 20 or more years, some disabled. Under current law, a retired disabled veteran is forced to pay for his or her own disability. How does this work? The veteran's earned retirement pay is reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of any VA disability compensation. Hard to believe, huh.

This law was spearheaded by a Southern Senator in the 1890's who wanted to punish retiring Yankee soldiers. It's still on the books!

You can write to your congresscritter about it. The issue is before the Congress as soon as they get back to Washington. Until then, I add only this cartoon:

[WVNan]

I'm here Billie. I'm trying to catch up. Puff puff...

[Diver Dave]

Thanks JL. A mighty powerful message that brings on monitor blurriness everytime I read it.

Reminds me of a favorite song It is Finished. I think I'll dig up the lyrics...

[WVNan]

Right to the heart loddy. Patriciaruth, I believe that your cards will read pretty positive. You have gone beyond the call in thinking of others. God bless you, and congratulations on being the "Finest of the Finest."

[Billie]

Thanks for coming over, Jim. And thanks for FR. The Certificate is quite a feather in FR's cap, thanks to patriciaruth for seeing the project through!

[Billie]

Thanks, knighthawk, and thanks to you for participating in the project. :)

[WVNan]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY jk!!!!!

[Billie]

Thank you, jtill. Daisy and I were thrilled to get the chance to do this.

[Billie]

Faster, faster! ;) Hi! Great seeing you!

[WVNan]

O.K. I'm finally caught up. Hey hey hey Billie! Glad to see you! Wanted to tell you that K is coming over tomorrow to spend part of the day with me. We will be here and all over FR as I show her around the place and teach her a few things. Then I hope to persuade her to register and join us. Every little Freeper helps you know.

[WVNan]

Dittos. Man it's hard to catch up when this thing is dragging so slooooow. Is this ever going to get better? I'm on cable and it's incredibly slow. I can imagine someone on line trying to work.

[Billie]

Oh, great! We will love having a new FReeper! Let me know if I can do anything to help.

As for FR dragging along, it started out pretty well and was humming most of the day, with only short intervals (for me anyway) of "website not responding". It's worse this evening. Time for me to do dinner anyway.

Great talking to you!

[patriciaruth]

Please ping me for this year's Christmas drive.

My health suffered a downturn this year, and I don't expect to be doing much more except an occasional care package on my own. If someone would step forward to take over sparkplugging and running around, I would be very happy to endorse them.

Meanwhile, check with Hillary's Lovely Legs and see what she is doing this year.

[Fizzie]

Wow. What a wonderful ping! Of course, I think this was my very first ping.... but I will remember it like my first kiss. Probably much more fondly.

Congratulations on such a successful endeavor, patriciaruth!

[WVNan]

Well, there you are! We were beginning to wonder where you were. I'm so sorry to hear that your health has turned negative. Health challenges are about the hardest things we human beings have to contend with. But they do tend to strengthen our faith, so I will pray that your health will improve and your faith will grow. You have the same name as our daughter who lives in Toledo. She lives and works and has raised her children from a wheelchair after an accident that left her paraplegic. Patty is my inspiration and hero.

[jkphoto]

LOL . . . so that's where the cake went!

[patriciaruth]

You must have stories to tell . . . .

LOL! Especially the one about how I was sexually harrassed by my liberal "trainer" when I was a VISTA Volunteer. (This was before there was a word for sexual harrassment.) He felt I had to prove to him that I was "in touch with my womanhood" before he could allow me to pass my training and be allowed to help the poor.

The story gets weirder and funnier from there.