A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-21-03...A Higher Standard

FreeTheHostages; Billie | FreeTheHostages

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

<

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

      Angelwood with war paint as part of Operation
      Infinite Freep on 10-27-01 outside the White House

A Higher Standard by FreeTheHostages
  

Angelwood

Angelwood is co-leader of the DC Chapter. "Angel" is her maiden name. She's got a cherubic face and she's angelically modest. Hard to do her profile - talk about your moving targets! She was quoted in the news this past week about the leftwing protests (see this post) , and was recently spotted outside the French embassy waving her version of the French flag:   a white flag because “they like to wave white flags so much!”

As Angelwood reports, she has fun at every single DC FReep, and she loves to hug each of us. "I love our Chapter members. We have a real, honest affection for each other." But it’s not all fun and games; that’s not how the road to Heaven works. Angelwood conveys her view to us DC Chapter members that we should have a "higher standard" in a fallen world, free from any suspicion of improper or unlawful behavior.

Y’all listen up. You’re about to learn something about leadership from a winner of one of the 1999 “Significant Freeper” awards, a winner of the 2000 “Freeper of the Year” award (shared with Kristinn), and someone who has led the DC Chapter to various lifetime achievement and Chapter awards.

Have A Very, Very
Understanding Spouse

Enough said. We have all benefited from his patience in sharing Angelwood. As the Chapter has matured, I hope he's become less of an "FR widower." Thanks, Freeper “Mark Phelps” (also our DC Chapter webmaster).

Know Your Chapter History
And Respect It
Fall of 1998:
MrConfettiMan Was There, Where Were You?

A conservative all her life, Angelwood found Free Republic in 1997 in the Whitewater link off of the Drudge Report. She lurked for some time. Then, one day in the fall of 1998, in the course of the impeachment turmoil, she read this post from MrConfettiMan:

"As promised in a previous article, I went down to the White House this morning with my protest sign. It was the first time I had ever done anything that might label me an activist. And you know what? It felt awesome!!!!! It might feel really good to sit around with a bunch of like-minded people and complain about Clintoon, but it feels a hundred times better to go out and be proactive. * * * Join me. It'll make you feel really good."

This truly historic FR thread had a commanding title: "DC Protest: I Was There, Where Were You?". (You’ve heard this story but you can never hear it enough. Remember DaisyScarlett’s profile just last week of Bert, who said he felt really good when he finally went to the White House protest. Those were heady days!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She laughs at her first sign: two pieces of construction paper with bumper stickers (Impeach Clinton) and flag stickers slapped on them, joined with strings to form a "sandwich board" she wore.

Birth of a Chapter

Soon after these weekly protests commenced, a thread went up on Free Republic entitled:  Washington DC Area Chapter Formed. All were welcome:

"We have decided to continue our White House protest every Saturday from 10am - 2pm . . . . We encourage all Chapters and citizens to join us on Saturday mornings. You will not believe the support you get from tourists and Americans. America does care. Eagles Up!

Freepers and Lurkers from all over the country would coordinate their travel plans to the DC area so that they could join the DC Chapter for a Saturday protest. Honorary DC Chapter membership was bestowed upon them all.

Angelwood had lurked for more than a year, but had not registered to post. She had asked MrConfettiMan or Marylander to post articles for her. She began going to the White House during her lunch hour and then would have a report posted. On December 6, 1998, the New York Times had a front page story by James Bennett stating that there were no protesters at the White House. Angelwood's husband was so incensed that he signed her up on Free Republic that very day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Press Discovers Angelwood

Since the NYTimes article wasn't true (SAY IT ISN’T SO!!), Marylander and Angelwood made plans to protest the D.C. Office of the New York Times on Monday afternoon. They passed out a flyer and asked every man who entered or exited if he was Mr. Bennett. Someone, who must have been offended by the impromptu protest, even lobbed a raw egg out of an upper window at Marylander and Angelwood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And the Rest is History

So the chapter began. There were ebbs and flows in events and attendance. Kristinn, Angelwood, and MrConfettiMan were mainstays. Sometimes, for some Freeps, it was just two or three people. Things blossomed, things bloomed. “Freepers are everywhere.” Angelwood became known as the “Button Lady” because she began making up buttons with clever and true statements on them for distribution to the tourists and student groups visiting the White House. Many Freepers and Lurkers donated to the DC Chapter “Button Fund” over the years, and to date approximately 15,000 buttons have been handed out.

When Angelwood wasn’t standing outside the White House on Saturdays in those early days, she was able to go to various Congressional hearings and trials. She would write after-action reports to share her insight and eye witness accounts of what went on behind the scenes at memorable events, such as:   Ken Starr’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee; the Burton House Government Affairs Committee hearings with John Huang, Bruce Lindsey, Beth Nolan, Cheryl Mills, and Charles Ruff; and the trial of Julie Hyatt Steele where Angelwood freeped Susan McDougal. She had the Freeper bug big time!

If You're Going To Work
This Hard, You Might As
Well Have Fun!

Angelwood and Kristinn thought they would be able to retire after George W. Bush was elected and the Clintons left the scene of their crimes. Unfortunately, Al Gore just wouldn’t concede that he had lost, and the DC Chapter got busy organizing the protests at the Vice President’s mansion on the grounds of the Naval Observatory.

GET OUT OF CHENEY’S HOUSE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Bush was declared the 43rd President of the United States, she helped with the Free Republic Inaugural Ball and Count the Silverware Party (featuring Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and his band, Capitol Offense). It was a complete success.

Check out Angelwood's bookmarks in her profile. She's been at all the major DC Freeps. That includes the March for Justice and Impeachment Day. It’s revealing that one of her favorite Freeps is the lesser-known "Twilight Freep" outside the White House, just before the dinner to honor the 13 House Managers and to thank them for their role in securing President Clinton's impeachment. She and about 70 or 80 others went to the White House with flashlights and signs.

The White House entrance was set up with a screen surrounding the front door. It was a security measure to protect President Clinton and Hillary when they stood outside to greet the Japanese Ambassador. There was a formal State Dinner that evening. The assembled protesters were able to do several chants: “Clinton is a Liar” among others. Then they chanted "Treason is the Reason" so long and so loud that it made it onto the C-SPAN tape of the event, which is available for sale. This is one of her favorites because she knew that evening that President Clinton and Hillary must have heard them. Even after the Senate failed to do its constitutional duty after the House impeachment, this Freep was a "reminder" to President Clinton that Freepers were out there, still watching.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since September 11, 2001, the DC Chapter has been very active in maintaining a memorial site at the Pentagon to remember the victims of that tragic attack. They have also countered the anti-war protesters whenever they assemble in Washington, DC. They have held three Patriots Rallies for America to Support Our Troops and envision many more. And when Sen. Clinton goes fundraising, Angelwood goes Freeping.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All this has earned Angelwood quite a Rolodex in a town that competes on who-you-know. As they say in Washington, “People” – that’s a capitol “P” – have her phone number. She won’t name drop names, so let’s “out” her with some photo-dropping. Being a leader of the DC Chapter is like being an angel in one respect: there’s a lot of work to be done, but you get to meet some pretty important people! People such as  (click on the photos for larger view).....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brit Hume

Bob Barr

Katherine Harris

David Limbaugh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And of course, this man...

Rush Limbaugh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a great thrill for her to meet David and Rush Limbaugh, and she wrote a great post calling the 4/18/01 booksigning party an absolute delight!. Rush Limbaugh signed her name tag and then stuck it on her shoulder! She didn’t remove it until she got home, at which point she stuck it on David’s book for safekeeping. Rush had a link to her Free Republic article with her picture on his homepage for three or four days thereafter – great publicity for Free Republic. Whoo hah!

Thank you, Angelwood
You are one FINE Freeper!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-17-03 President's Day 02-18-03 Political Pictionary...Redux 02-19-03 Brad's Gramma 02-20-03 JohnHuang2 Essay

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

[Angelwood]

I appreciate all your kind words, thank you. It certainly has been a long time lurking on FR and then becoming more active -- I never realized how that first fateful click on the DrudgeReport and then the Whitewater link would change my life.

[Angelwood]

I must thank you for such an awesome, absolutely beautiful graphic. Another to go into my collection -- thanks again.

[Billie]

Good morning, and so nice to see you! Angelwood has many, many fans, doesn't she? A FINE FReeper is putting it mildly, I know - her name is probably one of the best-known of all FReepers!

[The Thin Man]

Wow, it's strange that there are two industrial fires in two large cities today. I'm tracking the real news closely.

Another one! I better check this out.

[FreeTheHostages]

Angels are perfect, I'm pretty sure.

[LadyX]

"I'm sure you're dismayed as much as me by her utter lack of gentility, especially since she promised earlier this morning not to pick on me. :-)"

Suppose we should be magnanimous in view of her obvious Trauma Day?

You do need to maintain your strength, T Man, to monitor our actions another day....we cannot function as well without you to keep us in line, after all.

[Billie]

Good morning, Angelwood - I do hope you get to spend some time here this afternoon - do we need to speak to your bosses?! This is, after all, your day on FR!

Had such fun doing the layout with this one - knew just exactly the look I wanted for yours when Free and I discussed 'angels'. :)

[FreeTheHostages]

LOL, oh dear, it's obvious, the "Trauma." Yup, my day has been wild. Which makes it all the more special when people show up with these amusing one-handed posts. {{{LadyX}}} I hope you get better fast!

And it's great to have all these beautiful angels. Thanks Colleen!

[FreeTheHostages]

do we need to speak to your bosses?! Her bosses are lawyers. It probably wouldn't help.

[deadhead]

Hi there, so happy that you like the angel. As soon as I saw who was being featured today, I went out to search for a pretty angel.

[Taxman]

We won't see you tomorrw at Luigi's? :(

[Taxman]

Yup. Well deserved kudos to a Fine FReeper

[FreeTheHostages]

Of course I'm going to be at our scatterbrain planning sessions. I wouldn't miss those for the world! LOL.

[FreeTheHostages]

{{BufordP}} We don't disagree on much! Just don't walk around with wittier signs than me, and we'll get along fine! :P Nothing divides us that wouldn't be solved by our troop leader/denmother:

[Exit148]

-----<<--<--@

To Angelwood -- our Ringleader!

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[FreeTheHostages]

Hi there! Even now, don't you feel her watching over us?

[Budge]

Wow! Congrats, Angelwood! You certainly deserve recognition!

[CounterCounterCulture]

An excellent choice and write-up. One of my all-time faves!

[daughterofTGSL]

Way to go Angelwood! Every time I've ever gone to a protest, Angelwood has been there. She's at every meeting possible, and gives so much of her time to FR. If anyone deserves this, she does!

[FreeTheHostages]

"Every time I've ever gone to a protest, Angelwood has been there."

Wow, kinda like an angel, huh? How do we KNOW she's not one?