USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Thursday Sports Day in the Canteen ~ May 15 2003

MoJo2001, Kathy in Alaska and FRiends of the Canteen

[Bethbg79]

Hiya Tonkin!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[LaDivaLoca]

Thanks, Kathy. These are happy pictures, so these are happy tears.

[LaDivaLoca]

Hi there, cherry! Hope all is well with you.

Our father is clueless but I swear our mother has eyes behind the back of her head. LOL! God bless them both.

[LaDivaLoca]

Iraqis celebrate their liberation by turning weapons
into pieces of art. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jose I. Sanchez

Now that is one productive way of expressing themselves. That is so cool.

[LaDivaLoca]

Photographers Capture 'A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces'

Thank you for this information. I'm getting a copy for myself. This is one book that I will always be proud to display on my coffee table.

[LaDivaLoca]

What's this - Tubs R Us? LOL!

[LaDivaLoca]

Hallo there, Beth! *HUGS*

Now this is my kind of sport.

[LaDivaLoca]

Good evening, Tonk. Thank you men in the Military and Canteen for the beautiful painting.

[Bethbg79]

That's a cute graphic!

I've never used a metal detector, I hear it's fun. :-)

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Evening Ladies

[Bethbg79]

(((hug)))

What's up?

I'm glad you're feeling better today!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Isn't that tank a piece of work!! I wonder how long it took to paint.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Evening!
Got lots done on the base today.
And it's just now going into the "busy" time of year.
47' boat in Bandon this weekend. Hopefully I get some boat time tomorrow.
Had to say goodbye to one of my Brothers
who is getting transfered to Gulfport MS.

*HUG*

[Lacey]

Just ran across this letter to the editor in the Stars & Stripes:

A show of respect

As usual, I was running late. So readers can imagine my frustration as I approached the main gate of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, only to find traffic backed up. Nearing the checkpoint, I realized that not only was there a long line of cars, but traffic had come to a complete stop because all entrance gates were closed.

Over the past 18 months, there have been many opportunities to practice our patience as we’ve had to “hurry up and wait” because of heightened security. While we realize the necessity, it’s still frustrating at times for even the most easygoing folks. This was one of those times for me. I needed to be where I was going, and I needed to be there now! The German soldiers, who are manning the entrances of American military installations in Germany, were just milling around at Ramstein, chatting as if those of us in line had all the time in the world.

Things then seemed to go from bad to worse. The German gate guards began walking among the stopped cars, asking us to turn off our engines and headlights. I realized that no traffic was exiting or entering the air base. My feelings of frustration began to turn to concern. Just what was going on? A few minutes later, I noticed blue lights approaching from the direction of the air terminal. Close behind were two military medical buses with their Red Cross. Lights were on in the buses and intravenous bags could be seen hanging. It was then that I realized these were more of our wounded warriors being transported from the battlefields to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for treatment.

I certainly wasn’t prepared for what happened next. All the German soldiers, our gate guards, began walking toward the concrete barriers that divide the inbound and outbound lanes of traffic. As the blue lights neared, more German soldiers seemed to appear from nowhere, lining the road shoulder to shoulder. Right on cue, without a word being spoken, these soldiers snapped a sharp salute as the buses drove past, rendering arms until well after the last bus had passed. Needless to say, I was speechless and deeply moved. What a show of respect for fellow soldiers!

Soldier to soldier, rendering honor and respect. Our allies, our comrades — those who know the price that some have to pay for freedom — did not have to be asked or prompted. It came from their character and soldiering hearts.

May God bless and watch over all soldiers and their loved ones as they stand in harm’s way for us.

Angie McLean

Landstuhl, Germany

[Kathy in Alaska]

DIVA!! My beach..............

Good to see ya this fine evening.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You for posting this article in the Canteen.
Welcome to the USO Canteen and please stop by again.

[tomkow6]

Hey, Tonk........What are "Easterns"??????????????? Tomorrow is "Westrern Movies". You gonna give me a hard time like RADIX, who loves to steal tag lines & threads? LOL!

[cherry_bomb88]

Hey guys! I've been lurking...sorry....after this week hopefully things will be calmer.

Guess what, Kathy!!!!! I FINALLY just tonight in my email, got my soldier's name from www.adoptaplatoon.com LOL...I've only been waiting 3 months.

[tomkow6]

Beth, you still got "skinny leggs", like Radix, & Linda?