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

[Radix]

"You've got to be careful what you ask for, Radix."


I can handle her.

I am about to get drilled I know!

But, I just love the interaction.

Yeah that is it. Yeah right.

Radix ducks for cover.

[zip]

It's nice to missed. Thank you.

I've managed to drop by the Canteen for only 10 to 15 minutes a day for the last couple of days but will be back after the Support Our Troops Infinite FReep rally tomorrow. Keep on keepin' on. CU l8r.

[MoJo2001]

I used to remember seeing those "CO-ED" RUGBY t-shirts on campus when I was in college. It always made me laugh for some silly reason!!

Radix, Co-Ed naked Firefighting? Yikes..talk about REALLY HOT!

[radu]

Waaaaa! I've never been to a tropical island but have always wanted go. I just can't stand cold weather.....but I LOVED it when I was a kid. You couldn't me inside if there was snow on the ground. Now...I don't like to walk out the door if I see even a single flake. hehehe!

[Mo1]

What I didn't realize was that he was up to his 11 year old armpits in mud at a home construction site, and it took several men in the neighborhood to get him out!!

LOL .. what is it about those little details kids always forget to tell

I notice my kiddies do it also ..

[Radix]

~You have just been hit with a cyber snow ball!~ :^) It's the start of..... Snow Ball Fight 2002 - 2003!! Remember you cannot send it back to the one that sent it to you ... so..... I got you first! One rule to this game.... You can NOT hit someone who has already hit you! Now... go out there and get as many people as you can, before they get you! I got you first! and you can't get me back! We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

[bluesagewoman]

(link to a FReeper's offer of closet space)

Limited time offer! Check it out.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Done! Nice to see you, TM!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi Sandy, ((HUG)) Hope you're feeling well today. Thank you for your service to our country.

[MoJo2001]

SCOTT JOPLIN CLICK!! HOW ABOUT WE COMPROMISE??

This was the only reason MoJo could tolerate being made to take piano lessons. I have Brahm's, but the files are huge!! I was going to play you some Mozart, but who needs that depression at this moment. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Done, Cobby! Good evening to you.

[MoJo2001]

Wow!! Absolutely awesome!! THanks for sharing with all of us!! Take advantage of it if you need it, Canteeners!!

[radu]

I love it that Mo is doing the Curly impression! That is so funny. I'm a huge Three Stooges fan and Curly was always my fave! I wish my little bird was one that could talk...I'd have it saying things like Curly, too. "Sointinly" would. LOL!!

[radu]

LOL! I'm getting so far behind! I can't keep my lap free of cats and they get in the way of the keyboard. sheesh!

I have no explanation for my fear of heights. It's just there. I never had any falls or bad experiences to blame it on. Just one day I decided I was meant to keep my feet firmly on the ground. hahaha!

[ohioWfan]

Scott Joplin it is!

I can play and my all time favorite, Solace.

Of course, it might be a bit challenging to get a piano up onto the firetruck........

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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

That same link has been in
The USO Canteen Post Office
since May.

[ohioWfan]

Oops......somehow the words, Mapleleaf Rag, and The Entertainer disappeared from my last post..... OH well. I must be getting tired!

Anyway, I can play both of them!

[radu]

Did not...she started it!

I'll find out just who the instigator is sometime tonight....don't know when but I'll find out. And when I do, I've got a big slushball ready and waiting! LOL!!!

[ohioWfan]

Well, for me it depends on what kind of ground!

For instance, my family took a little hike down into the Grand Canyon, and I stayed up at the top and prayed the whole time! I prefer ground that's not inches away from a mile high precipice!

[MoJo2001]

CURLY SHUFFLE CLICK