The FReeper Foxhole - Remembers our Honored Dead - TODAY is Memorial Day - May 30th, 2007

http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp ^

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

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click on the books below.

In Flanders Fields



By John McCrae



In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

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.



This was the poem written by World War I Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon with Canada 's First Brigade Artillery. It expressed McCrae's grief over the "row on row" of graves of soldiers who had died on Flanders' battlefields, located in a region of western Belgium and northern France. The poem presented a striking image of the bright red flowers blooming among the rows of white crosses and became a rallying cry to all who fought in the First World War. The first printed version of it reportedly was in December 1915, in the British magazine Punch.

McCrae's poem had a huge impact on two women, Anna E. Guerin of France and Georgia native Moina Michael. Both worked hard to initiate the sale of artificial poppies to help orphans and others left destitute by the war. By the time Guerin established the first sale in the U.S., in 1920 with the help of The American Legion, the poppy was well known in the allied countries — America, Britain, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — as the "Flower of Remembrance." Proceeds from that first sale went to the American and French Children's League.

Guerin had difficulty with the distribution of the poppies in early 1922 and sought out Michael for help. Michael had started a smaller-scaled Poppy Day during a YMCA conference she was attending in New York and wanted to use the poppies as a symbol of remembrance of the war. Guerin, called the "Poppy Lady of France" in her homeland, and Michael, later dubbed "The Poppy Princess" by the Georgia legislature, went to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for help. Following its first nationwide distribution of poppies in 1922, the VFW adopted the poppy as its official memorial flower.

However, a shortage of poppies from French manufacturers led to the idea of using unemployed and disabled veterans to produce the artificial flowers. In 1924, a poppy factory was built in Pittsburgh, Pa., providing a reliable source of poppies and a practical means of assistance to veterans. Today, veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and veterans homes help assemble the poppies, which are distributed by veterans service organizations throughout the country.

Donations received in return for these artificial poppies have helped countless veterans and their widows, widowers and orphans over the years. The poppy itself continues to serve as a perpetual tribute to those who have given their lives for the nation's freedom.

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FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[snippy_about_it]

You know, we former yankees noticed the the South is actually better integrated than any other place in this country.

As for the links, thanks! Sam is going to love these too. I’ll ping him. Imagine that, he’s in the next room playing his submarine sim and I’ve got to ping him to the Foxhole!

Only one of us at a time can get on thanks to this slooooow dial up.

Thanks again for the links, they’re great.

[snippy_about_it]

I don’t believe it, you showed up. Thanks sweetie!

[snippy_about_it]

www.army.mil/cmh/books

Oh my, I nearly forgot. We do know a historian over there! Shame on me. It’s the Command Sargeant Major. Better known as freeper Hurtgen. Great place, great historian too.

[snippy_about_it]

awwww. See, it’s good to read the Foxhole. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

Welcome to our little safe corner of FR. If you’re interested in U.S. Military History there is a link (button) to all our threads on FR’s front page. We used to have the time to post every day and did so for about three years or more, now sadly, only now and then. Enjoy.

Thank you for your service. We love you Navy guys.

Snippy

[NY Attitude]

Thank you for the warm welcome and information. I certainly intend on visiting the Foxhole often.

[SAMWolf]

It seems I’m either busy or tired all the time, must be getting old. ;-)

[SAMWolf]

I hate dial-up!!!!

[SAMWolf]

Hi NY Attitude.
So Feather found another poet. :-)
She actually got me to try my hand at it, found out I sort liked doing Haiku, been a long time since I’ve tried any though.

[SAMWolf]

What?!?!?! You really think I’d not at least make an appearance at the Foxhole?!?!?!?!

I’ve had a few ideas for threads but just can’t seem to get arounds to actually doing them. Everytime I “dial-up” and get on the computer I get discouraged.

[Old 300]

Everytime I “dial-up” and get on the computer I get discouraged.

I think this past Memorial day was a very sad one for a lot of us.

[Soaring Feather]

Nah, you are not getting old Sam, maybe a tad tired, look at what you and snippy have done in a few short years.

You guys never say no, but why not, and charge at life’s challenge. ;0)
I know you have dial up, but stop around the Lair, would love to see you, Miss Snippy, too!

[Soaring Feather]

Snippy, I meant to tell you, you did a lovely job with the Flanders Fields poem, the graphic is gorgeous.

I remember Sam posted that in the Lair some years ago, I did this year, either the Lair or someplace here at FR. LOL can’t remember.

[NY Attitude]

HI SAMWolf, it just sort of happened. For some reason, something will trigger a writing spell and then then it will fall into a lull. I am looking forward to reading your works.

[alfa6]

Greetings NY A I will add you to my copy of the Foxhole ping list, if I can remember where I put it :-) On occasion I get the urge to post a Foxhole thread to try and keep the Foxhole going.

Nice to have you aboard

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Professional Engineer]

Who’re you?

[NY Attitude]

Thank you for the warm welcome and for adding me to the ping list.

Regards,

NY Attitude

[Coleus]

Hey, what’s happenin’ How are you and the wolfman doing?

[snippy_about_it]

We are doing swell. It’s hot, hot, hot here in Georgia, 96 today, 98 tomorrow and of humid already. Both of us working, two dogs, a roof over our heads, and eatin’ good. What more could you ask for?

How are you doing. Where have you been?

[Coleus]

I doing Ok and as always eatin good too, too good. thanks. and have been busy here on the FR. I thought you lived in wash. state on the left coast. Much of the south is just plain humid all summer long, very uncomfortable.