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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Vernon Baker ~ 05 October 2015
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| StarCMC and The Canteen Crew
Posted on 10/04/2015 5:01:16 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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To: Kathy in Alaska
2
posted on
10/04/2015 5:01:33 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN - 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in batle!)
To: ConorMacNessa
Permission Granted!![](http://www.navy.mil/navydata/communications/flags/charlie.gif)
3
posted on
10/04/2015 5:04:03 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
![](http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Conormacnessa/FReep/652d1c0e-3d82-4fc8-a925-9363724957bb_zps697e7cd0.jpg) Good evening, Kathy and Star!
***HUGS***
Thanks very much coming aboard! Rendering Hand Salutes to our National Colors and to the Officer of the Deck!
And thanks very much to you and Star for tonights Hall of Heroes thread! 1st Lt. Vernon J. Baker, USA (MOH) is most worthy of entry into our Hall of Heroes!
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4
posted on
10/04/2015 5:07:26 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN - 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in batle!)
To: The Mayor; ConorMacNessa; SandRat; mountainlion; HiJinx; Publius; Jet Jaguar; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...
5
posted on
10/04/2015 5:08:37 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...
![](http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Conormacnessa/Flags/938063cd-6fdf-43cd-a9d5-437c72c92ae2_zpsabb600f5.jpg)
![](http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Conormacnessa/Militaria/militarygroup-vi.jpg)
Welcome To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, To Our Veterans, To All Military Families, To Our FRiends and To Our Allies!
![](http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Conormacnessa/Militaria/missing-man-762922.jpg)
Missing Man Setting
"The Empty Chair"
By Captain Carroll "Lex" Lefon, USN (RET), on December 21st, 2004
"In the wardroom onboard the aircraft carrier from which I recently debarked was a small, round table, with single chair. No one ever sat there, and the reasons, both for the table being there, and for the fact that the chair was always empty, will tell the reader a little bit about who we are as a culture. The wardroom, of course, is where the officers will dine; morning, noon and evening. It is not only a place to eat it is also a kind of oasis from the sometimes dreary, often difficult exigencies of the service. A place of social discourse, of momentary relief from the burdens of the day. The only things explicitly forbidden by inviolable tradition in the wardroom are the wearing of a cover or sword by an officer not actually on watch, or conversation which touches upon politics or religion. But aboard ships which observe the custom, another implicit taboo concerns the empty chair: No matter how crowded the room, no matter who is waiting to be seated, that chair is never moved, never taken.
The table is by the main entrance to the wardroom. You will see it when you enter, and you will see it when you leave. It draws your eyes because it is meant to. And because it draws your eyes it draws your thoughts. And though it will be there every day for as long as you are at sea, you will look at it every time and your eyes will momentarily grow distant as you think for a moment. As you quietly give thanks.
AS YOU REMEMBER.
The small, round table is covered with a gold linen tablecloth. A single place setting rests there, of fine bone china. A wineglass stands upon the table, inverted, empty. On the dinner plate is a pinch of salt. On the bread plate is a slice of lemon. Besides the plate lies a bible. There is a small vase with a single red rose upon the table. Around the vase is wound a yellow ribbon. There is the empty chair.
We will remember because over the course of our careers, we will have had the opportunity to enjoy many a formal evening of dinner and dancing in the fine company of those with whom we have the honor to serve, and their lovely ladies. And as the night wears on, our faces will in time become flushed with pleasure of each others company, with the exertions on the dance floor, with the effects of our libations. But while the feast is still at its best, order will be called to the room we will be asked to raise our glasses to the empty table, and we will be asked to remember:
The table is round to show our everlasting concern for those who are missing. The single setting reminds us that every one of them went to their fates alone, that every life was unique.
The tablecloth is gold symbolizing the purity of their motives when they answered the call to duty.
The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones who kept the faith.
The yellow ribbon around the vase symbolizes our continued determination to remember them.
The slice of lemon reminds us of the bitterness of their fate. The salt symbolizes the tears shed by those who loved them. The bible represents the faith that sustained them. The glass is inverted they cannot share in the toast. The chair is empty they are not here. They are missing.
And we will remember, and we will raise our glasses to those who went before us, and who gave all that they had for us. And a part of the flush in our faces will pale as we remember that nothing worth having ever came without a cost. We will remember that many of our brothers and sisters have paid that cost in blood. We will remember that the reckoning is not over.
We many of us will settle with our families into our holiday season, our Christmas season for those who celebrate it, content in our fortune and prosperity. We will meet old friends with smiles and laughter. We will meet our members of our family with hugs. We will eat well, and exchange gifts and raise our glasses to the year passed in gratitude, and to the year to come with hope. We will sleep the sleep of the protected, secure in our homes, secure in our homeland.
But for many families, there will be an empty chair at the table this year. A place that is not filled.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER."
Many Thanks To Alfa6 For Finding Capt. Lefon's Chronicle Of "The Empty Chair."
"Träumerei" Robert Schumann (Click)
Never Forget The Brave Men And Women Who Gave Their Lives To Secure Our Freedom!!
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6
posted on
10/04/2015 5:13:29 PM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN - 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in batle!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
![](http://rusimages.homestead.com/CupOcoffee.jpg)
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
Seconds Count
Oct 5, 2015
Show me, Lord, my lifes end.
Psalm 39:4
At the age of 59 my friend Bob Boardman wrote, If the 70 years of a normal life span were squeezed into a single 24-hour day, it would now be 8:30 in the evening in my life. . . . Time is slipping by so rapidly.
The difficulty in admitting that our time on earth is limited inspired the creation of Tikkera wristwatch that tells you what time it is, calculates your estimated normal life span, and displays a running countdown of your remaining time. It is advertised as the watch that counts down your life, just so you can make every second count.
In Psalm 39, David grappled with the brevity of his life, saying, Show me, Lord, my lifes end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is (v. 4). He described his life span as no longer than the width of his hand, as only a moment to God, and merely a breath (v. 5). David concluded, But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you (v. 7).
The clock is ticking. Now is the time to seek Gods power to help us become the people He wants us to be. Finding hope in our eternal God gives meaning for our lives today.
In what ways am I wasting time? In what ways am I making my days count? In what areas do I need to make changes?
The time to live for Jesus is now.
One reason the Psalms are loved by so many is that they often capture the real emotion of people facing real situations. It gives many of us comfort to know that we are not alone in our struggles and reactions to life. In todays psalm, David comments on the brevity of life and has an understandable reaction. When we look back on our lives, many of us lament our mistakes and wasted efforts. But David reminds us that in the face of all our sins, it is God who remains our hope. No matter how much of a mess we have made of our lives, it is never too much of a mess for God to redeem. J.R. Hudberg
7
posted on
10/04/2015 5:17:36 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
To: ConorMacNessa; Kathy in Alaska
Hi Everybody!
((((HUGS))))
8
posted on
10/04/2015 5:19:24 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: StarCMC; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; ...
Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC. Please thank StarCMC for todays thread.
Sending out prayers for Arrowhead1952 as he recovers from his horrible fall.
~ Hall of Heroes: Vernon Baker ~
![]( http://patriotden.com/fotki/star/baker-vernon-thumb16480557-vi.jpg)
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Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
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9
posted on
10/04/2015 5:39:28 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ConorMacNessa
Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...shoes shined, pants pressed, ready to meet the new project folks?
Hope you got some good rest today. BBQ??
10
posted on
10/04/2015 5:44:36 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ConorMacNessa
Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.
11
posted on
10/04/2015 5:51:51 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: ConorMacNessa
Mac!!![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/congratulations/first_place.png)
12
posted on
10/04/2015 5:58:19 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W
13
posted on
10/04/2015 6:14:03 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: The Mayor
Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
All rested and ready to take on the new week?
We might see some sun tomorrow, but more rain during the week.
14
posted on
10/04/2015 6:31:39 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: The Mayor
The Mayor!!![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/congratulations/second_place.png)
15
posted on
10/04/2015 6:39:59 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: left that other site
Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you get to ride today?
How did soloing go?
16
posted on
10/04/2015 6:41:03 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Steve came back to church today! Thank you for praying for him. He is not out of the woods yet, and there is a lot of work to be done before he can get back into the music ministry, but it’s a start.
And, YES, I DID get to ride today! }B-)
17
posted on
10/04/2015 6:43:49 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: left that other site
ML!!![](http://patriotden.com/fotki/congratulations/third_place.png)
18
posted on
10/04/2015 6:51:07 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: left that other site
WOW! Praise The Lord...so happy Steve was able to return.
One step at a time...
Glad you got to ride, and have a Marvelous Monday.
19
posted on
10/04/2015 7:12:20 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
He looks pretty good after seven weeks of chemo AND radiation.
20
posted on
10/04/2015 7:13:17 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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