USO Canteen FReeper Style....OhioWfan & Son Eric .... November 8,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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The USO Canteen FReeper Style
Delivering a Touch of Home

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A Touch of Home

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This is how I think of the USO Canteen 
Freeper Style. It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night. 

Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too. 
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of 
place that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, 
a library, etc. 

Many Veterans have written to me, 
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they 
served. 

This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy 
and sometimes troubling world. 
Make yourself at home.

Snow Bunny

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If you know a Veteran, someone in your family, 
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their  
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank 
them. 

Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.

We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper 
Style, are thankful for every service member 
in our military, who has served our great nation.

So, to the men and women who answered the call,
In both times of war and peace, thank you.

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Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

John McCrae 

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The USO Canteen Honors FReepers
who have served, or are now serving their country.

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This Week's Canteen Honoree

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You may have a loved one who has served in the past.
We at the FReeper USO Canteen would like to honor each and every one.

Today for FReeper Friday
we are looking at a Mother
and son together.
Many of you may already know
OhioWfan and her love for America .
Now we will meet her son Eric that is
carrying on the fine tradition of being a
Patriot in his service to our country.

Because Eric has already been featured
at FR’s Finest and because we here at
the Canteen salute those that have
served in the past or are serving now
we would like to pay tribute to Eric
and his mother together as our
salute to both of them.

Eric was born in 1984, the third of
four children, he graduated from
High School in the class of 2002 .He
He graduated from his highschool
with a 4.0, and was Valedictorian

He has been an avid Civil War collector
since he was 8 or 9, but the only things
he ever really wanted were the guns and
the swords. He ran an entire Cross Country
race on a stress fracture in his foot because
he refused to quit ‘pressing on toward the goal.’

He is quiet, yet bold ,so bold in his faith
that he told his classmates Sunday in his
Valedictory speech that the only way they
could have a truly successful future was
through faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. His
greatest desire in life is to serve that Savior
and live a Christ-like life, and to serve others.

He is handsome, mature, stable, interested in
history and politics, fiercely competitive,
wanting to be the best he can be at everything
he pursues, a talented athlete and musician,
and well liked by his peers.

Eric entered Basic Training for the U.S. Army
shortly after graduating from high school at the
Army Basic training in Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

Victory Field in Ft. Knox, Kentucky

Eric's finished his training and he received
the Distinguished Honor Graduate award. He
was first in both classes which graduated.

As her son is serving, OhioWfan is
serving our country as his mom, with
all the concerns , prayers and hope too
that a mother has for her child.

She is a FReeper,a prayer warrior
for our President and our country, a
wonderful artist and shares with us
her talent as an artist.

This is a sketch she has done of President Bush

Eric is a fine young man and his honor
and integrity is a reflection on his parents.
We are grateful to have met OhioWfan and
Grateful too that we can share in her life as
Eric’s deservedly proud mom. It is an honor
to have met both of them and we thank them
both for being what America is all about.

OhioWfan had the opportunity to
see and hear President Bush, through
the graciousness of fellow freeper,
WVNan, who invited her to West Virginia .
WVNan was also able to get a ticket for Eric
to go with them as well.

We went to the Civic Center 4 hours
early to get good seats, but were able
to get a spot on the floor right by the rail.
The President was inspiring and energetic
in his speech, and clothed in humility.....in
Eric's words 'he seemed almost embarrassed'
by the adulation he received.

After he had spoken, he came down the stairs
in front of us and began to greet the people
along the rail.

When he got to me, I said "I pray for you
and Laura every day." He looked at me,
and with obvious sincerity said, "Thank
you. That's the kindest thing you can do
for me." Then he reached out, hugged me
and kissed my cheek. He then shook Eric's
hand, who was overwhelmed with the
privilege of shaking hands with his
Commander in Chief.

Eric ~ OhioWfan ~ WVNan

Thank you OhioWfan for being the
lovely lady you are and for sharing
a part of your life with us that is very
special……..your son Eric.And thank you
Eric for your service to our country and
being the fine young man you are.

My Soldier's Mom

My child, you glow in uniform
In pride I live, my heart so warm
I have such precious thoughts cascade
Some old, some new, not one will fade
How hard that day we said good-bye
The joy, the pain, etched in my eye
You left to serve our Country well
My perfect one, my tears did swell
No better soldier could there be
For in my love, that’s all I see
Oh how I pray for you each day
Be safe, be well, God guide your way
I keep your Home in wait with me
Your Mom will guard it faithfully
How great the day when you’ll return
We’ll talk and talk, night-lights to burn
My Soldier’s Mom, is who I am
While you do proud, for Uncle Sam

Written By Roger J. Robicheau
former US ARMY Veteran
Specialist Fifth Class

[Mo1]

FOFL ... took be a second to get that picture .. tooooo funny

[ProudEagle]

No disrepect was intended for Dad's part m'am, but any smart man knows who runs the house (after God of course) :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Woohoo!! Girlz, this I know how to drive!! Here's a helmet for Johnny.

Now here this...Duchess, I'M DRIVING!! You can be in charge of the airhorn and scare drivers who are too stupid to pull over for emergency vehicles. Who is going to bring the Dalmation? LaDiva, no refreshments until we get back to the station. Everybody be sure to bring work gloves because we will be catching a hydrant and pulling hose. This is going to be fun. Prepare to get wet! Woohoo!! Ohboyohboyohboy!!

[SAMWolf]

I may not know poetry but I know what I like.

[SAMWolf]

SR-71 Blackbird Bump!



"Habu 972 At Mach 3.0"

Richard Graham and RSO Don Emmons cruising their SR-71 in after-burner, gathering intelligence over the Soviet nuclear facility at Kamchatka, Dec. 1976.

[SAMWolf]

I'm glad you can find a use for that prayer Jen. I hope it does help you.

[Soaring Feather]

WoooHooo, Kathy, how's this for starters?

No cats radu, leave them cats home tonight please. LOL

[Soaring Feather]

I know what I like.

That's all that matters SAM!

[anniegetyourgun]

I know dads are important. But I also know there is nothing like the bond between and mother and son. ; )

[SAMWolf]

A soldier from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division takes cover from behind a rock doorway as troops conduct a sweep of homes Thursday Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan. Soldiers discovered over a dozen mines and grenades, 14 rocket propelled grenades, and plastic explosives as they searched several compounds as part of Operation Alamo Sweep. (AP Photo/Scott Nelson, Pool)

A female soldier from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division searches an Afghan child during a sweep of homes Thursday Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

Afghan translators working with the U.S. military take time out during a sweep of homes in southeastern Afghanistan to pray as part of Ramadan Thursday Nov. 7, 2002 in Afganistan. In addition to allocating prayer time for the translators, soldiers also were instructed to take care not to eat their prepackaged army food rations in front of Afghans who were fasting in observance of the holy Muslim month. (AP Photo/Scott Nelson, Pool)

Soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division search homes Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

An Afghan man and his son watch as soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division prepare to sweep their home Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

A soldier from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division searches two Afghan men as troops conduct a sweep of homes Thursday Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

Soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division descend a hill as they conduct a sweep of homes Thursday Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

Soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division examine weapons discovered during a sweep of homes Thursday Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

An Afghan woman turns away as soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division conduct a sweep of her home Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

Soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division turn their backs so that Afghan women and children may pass as they conduct a sweep of homes Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 in southeastern Afghanistan

[Kathy in Alaska]

Excellent work, ms feather, excellent! LOL!

[SAMWolf]

An Army honor guard escorts the casket carrying the remains of seven soldiers, including a major in the South Vietnamese Army, killed in Vietnam Feb. 6, 1969, during funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Friday, Nov. 8, 2002. The group died when their UH-1H Huey helicopter crashed in bad weather. The group includes Maj. David Padgett of Washington, Ind., Capt. Ronald briggs of Philadelphia, Sgt. 1st Class Robert O'Hara of Lost Nation, Iowa, Lt. Col. Donald Parsons, Chief Warrant Officer Charles Stanley, Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Christiansen and Maj. Vu Vann Phao. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

[SAMWolf]

That's all that matters SAM!

Yes. It's something you have to relearn every once in a while.

[Johnny Gage]

Ok ladies, NO FIGHTING!... ROFL... There's enough trucks to go around for everyone to take turns drivin'.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, Aeronaut and your faithful sidekick Otto, for the daily flyover of protection for the Canteen.

[Soaring Feather]

An Army honor guard escorts the casket carrying the remains of seven soldiers, including a major in the South Vietnamese Army, killed in Vietnam Feb. 6, 1969, during funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Friday, Nov. 8, 2002.

Home at last. May their families have rest now.

[blackie]

Mail...Bump !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Let's Roll !!

Molon Labe !!

[blackie]

82nd Airborne...Bump !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Let's Roll !!

Molon Labe !!