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

[redhead]

"LOL! People in the south have no idea what a real snowman looks like. This one has all its pieces in the right places."

Teehee! This reminds me of a time in Valdez when our #2 son was about 6. He built a little bitty snowman on the hood of the pickup, right where the hood ornament would go. That night, it froze HARD, and that snowman was there for the duration! Hubby drove around for a week with a little snowman on the hood of the truck, and everybody sure got a kick out of it! (DANG! That was a LONG time ago! That little boy is almost 40...sigh...)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Lately I get NOTHING when I try to hear music here. I know that I'm tone deaf, but this is ridiculous! : )

If your speakers are turned down, I will tease you for the rest of your life. : )

[Kathy in Alaska]

"and that snowman was there for the duration! Hubby drove around for a week with a little snowman on the hood of the truck, and everybody sure got a kick out of it!"

What precious memories!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Now here this...Duchess, I'M DRIVING!!

Okay, OKAY!!! If it means that much to you... LOL

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Guess what Mo has learned to say? "Oh, a wise guy! Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck!"

He finally has put all the parts together and says it frequently.

Now I'm teaching him to say: "Dems are looooooooo-sers!" hahahahahaha

OMG! That is hilarious!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Nice to see you EternalVigilance. Thanks for stopping in.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You're welcome, Mo - it's great, huh??

[COB1]

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE!

USE THIS LINK TO TELL THE TROOPS HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEM!

[Sponsored by the Department of Defense]

Over 1,270,000 Americans have said, "Thank you"!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks for dropping by, rdb3, and thanks to you too for your service to our country.

[PhilDragoo]

Snow Bunny

Thank you for posting the picture of Ted Maher at 15.

Ted's other home on Free Republic is at the current Ted Maher thread.

With the passage of the UN resolution on Iraq President Bush has locked in our course to disarm Saddam Hussein.

As Roger Hedgecock former mayor of San Diego guesthosting Rush today said, "Without going into specifics, the military is prepared for the war on Iraq."

The war is one waged on us as far back as the Beirut Embassy and Marine barracks bombings in 1983.

It is a war which will now be prosecuted by an energized force of America's finest

Exhibiting a tsunami of righteous wrath

And resulting in a dramatically altered world--in the region and in America.

God Speed the finest fighting force on earth.

[RadioAstronomer]

Yup! :-) Excellent clue. OMG I went back and re-read my post. LOL I really miss-typed in a few places! HAHAHAHA!

I am doing well and it is great to see you also! :-)

[MoJo2001]

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OFF THE PRESS!

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Howdy Troops!

Jewish Liberals, as are most in the Democratic Party,
are concerned that President Bush and those damn right wing
whackos (most of whom can be found at NASCAR events,
Free Republic, at church praying to God, and those standing
in line at McDonald's not cheating to get ahead in the line..YOU
KNOW WHO YOU ARE OUT THERE)
are going to start turning America into some Christian fanatic
country that is no worse than the Middle East Arab countries.
Oh, the humanity of it all! (In MoJo's dreams) Anyways,
I want to let all of our Jewish Liberal friends know that while I'm
a scary individual..I don't give a rat's rear end about converting you into
a Christian. (MoJo worries more about people like Jesse Jackson that
claim to out there doing the "Lord's work" and "sowing" his seeds
everywhere on God's green Earth) Anyways, MoJo would like to
welcome you to reality. You have no better friend in the White House
than President Bush. (Sadly, probably even more so than President
Reagan) So? Fear not, Barbra Streisand. We don't want to convert you!
We just want you to LEAVE AMERICA NOW! Not a problem, right?

NEWSFLASH!!!

Seems that the Democrats spent about 15 million dollars this year
on an important segment of the population in the South. A few years ago,
it was the angry-white male population. Then it became the soccer moms.(
MoJo appreciates mother's who have bumper stickers stating their child
beat up a soccer mom's kid) Anyways, their was a new segment the
Democrats were going to reach out to. Who were they?
ANTI-TERRORIST PATRIOTS!! Known to the rest of us as
the NASCAR goers. These people are usually called "rednecks,
hillbillies, ignorant, and white trash". (PROUDLY STAND UP!!)
It seems they spent all this money in the South and what were the results:
Well, they lost the entire South. (except for Arkansas, but who the hell cares
about Arkansas??)

CALLING ALL THE LADIES!!

Here's the contestants for
The First Annual Sexiest Male Shirtless Day
Holla Back! Let us know what you think!!

Introducing, Antonio Ortiz

Here's Antonio's take on his body:
I see the human body as a work of art, similar to the way an artist looks at a sculpture.
The secret to obtaining a beautiful body is first realizing that there is no secret." - Antonio P. Ortiz -

If you like Antonio, please write: UNO

Ladies, introducing Brett Hollands!
He's a male model (Shoot, aren't they all)

ENJOY THE REST OF THE GALLERY!!
LET US KNOW WHICH ONE YOU LIKED
BEST!! OK!! Brett, is number 2. They will
follow the order of the picture! So? Holla!!

GOD BLESS THE ARMY!! He's #3

 

Hubba Hubba!! He's #4

Hello! Goddess!! He's #5

Hello Water!! Here's #6

 

Hello! I'm ready to be served!!
He's #7

 

 

To prove that we aren't leaving the men out:
Here's a picture for you to have until tomorrow!!

Here's Denise Richards!!

 

Thanks for going along my journey!!

 

Here's Jessica Alba

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thank You
and
GOD BLESS YOU!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

SPLAT! Now, if we only had snow to fight back with.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks for stopping by, Lorena, to help honor Eric. Your graphics honoring the military are beautiful. Thank you.

[larryjohnson]

Your Eric is an inspiration to Veterans. Does this make sense?

[SAMWolf]

Crane operators lower a 70-foot-tall Douglas fir on the grounds of the Umpqua National Forest's Toketee Ranger District, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, near Toketee, Ore. The tree was placed on a flatbed truck which is to carry it to Washington, D.C., to be displayed on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The forest applied seven years ago to donate what is officially known as the Capitol Holiday Tree, but only got the nod last year to provide one of the first such trees from Oregon. (AP Photo/Jeff Barnard)

[Mo1]

KEWL ... SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!!

Ready .. aim ... FIRE!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hurrah for Oregon: providing the Capitol Holiday Tree.

[MoJo2001]

READY!!!!