Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 3: Operation Little Vittles ~ December 22, 2008
Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World | StarCMC and Frosty The Snowman

Posted on 12/21/2008 5:00:07 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 461-480481-500501-520 ... 541-547 next last
To: tomkow6

ROFLOL! He Lives! Great to hear from you(((tomkow))).


481 posted on 12/22/2008 9:17:17 AM PST by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 477 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

We are finally seeing pure blue sky against 22” of snow. And 19ºF.

Logan is open so you can come now.


482 posted on 12/22/2008 9:18:24 AM PST by Lady Jag (DONATE NOW at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 476 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska
Yesterday was brutal!...thought I was back in Iceland!

High temp yesterday was -3, with wind chills -20 to -30. Parts 10 miles west of me were in blizzard conditions.

Today is warmer, 0 right now & it's supposed to get to the teens, with 3-4" of snow starting tonight.

Should be a great game tonight, when the Cheeseheads play the BEARS here in Chicago.

483 posted on 12/22/2008 9:22:22 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 479 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6
Happy Birthday!

I might have missed it, I'm not sure, so happy ongoing birthday!


484 posted on 12/22/2008 9:25:43 AM PST by Lady Jag (DONATE NOW at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 477 | View Replies]

To: MEG33

Gone, but not forgotten, eh?


485 posted on 12/22/2008 9:26:20 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 481 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

BRRRR cold game, but 2 cold weather teams.


486 posted on 12/22/2008 9:31:57 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 483 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; beachn4fun

I’ve no idea if this “A different Christmas Poem” has been posted here........it’s worth a re-post....
______

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said, “Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.”
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
_____

Merry Christmas to all......


487 posted on 12/22/2008 9:32:51 AM PST by unique
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 291 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

You are Unforgettable, tom!


488 posted on 12/22/2008 9:39:50 AM PST by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 485 | View Replies]

To: E.G.C.

Hi! We’re seeing the fun for the first time in four days and it’s beautiful with the snow.


489 posted on 12/22/2008 9:56:55 AM PST by Lady Jag (DONATE NOW at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 480 | View Replies]

To: E.G.C.

Although we are seeing fun, I meant so say “seeing sun.”


490 posted on 12/22/2008 10:03:34 AM PST by Lady Jag (DONATE NOW at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 480 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

Hey Tomkow can you vetirfy political rumor it is true you going be senator of great state Illnois LOL!

I hear that DA plan allow you run for Senator you spill the bean to Blago here


491 posted on 12/22/2008 10:06:22 AM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 477 | View Replies]

To: SevenofNine

I think the Senate seat is still available on Ebay.....


492 posted on 12/22/2008 10:18:44 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 491 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

Hey Tomkow what inside scoop what your fav Chicago resident think of your Governor they compare him to Crime bosses family on SO CAL News

You can’t compare to Govenor to Sam Gianica least Sammy did right in secret he made phone call to Frank Sinatra tell JFK that he help with the election

It only take phone call back in those days LOL!


493 posted on 12/22/2008 10:21:15 AM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 492 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

((LOL))


494 posted on 12/22/2008 10:22:34 AM PST by E.G.C. (Click on a freeper's screename and then "In Forum" to read his/her posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 490 | View Replies]

To: beachn4fun

Yep, was proud of the Skins yesterday. Dallas played like a sandlot football team; it was as though they did no game prep whatsoever.


495 posted on 12/22/2008 10:22:34 AM PST by NRA1995 ("You improvise, you adapt, you overcome" (Gunny from "Heartbreak Ridge"))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 473 | View Replies]

To: beachn4fun
Good Monday morning, beachy...((HUGS))...no whining about the cold. LOL!!


496 posted on 12/22/2008 10:28:57 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 431 | View Replies]

To: SevenofNine

Chicago mayors learned from the VERY BEST!


497 posted on 12/22/2008 10:33:19 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 493 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

mine


498 posted on 12/22/2008 10:33:43 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 497 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

mine


499 posted on 12/22/2008 10:33:43 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 497 | View Replies]

To: tomkow6

mine


500 posted on 12/22/2008 10:33:43 AM PST by tomkow6 (....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 497 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 461-480481-500501-520 ... 541-547 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson