USO Canteen Freeper Style.....Monday 03-18-02

USO Canteen Freeper Style

War has come to our shores. It was committed on American soil. We have been able to live in Freedom only because of those who have fought in the past wars giving life, limb and all the sacrifices for us to live in Freedom and go about our day without fear.

On September 11, 2001, that comfort, that feeling of living in a land that would not be attacked ended.

William T. Sherman said it succinctly, "War is hell."

The day has come for this Nation and its people to understand that there is a risk in losing its freedom, and in reality there always has been. We have ONLY stayed free because of the sacrifices of our military, our warriors.

This is about saving the future of America. Aristotle said, "We make war that we may live in peace."

We are seeing the American Flag flying at homes now more than ever in my lifetime. We are seeing the American Flag flying on vehicles and people wearing Flag pins and small Flags on their clothes. America is united in the cause for Freedom and for our country to WIN against the evil that came upon our land to kill and hurt us. To change our way of life and to destroy America which is US, you and me. To take away our precious Freedom.

This is the Freeper version of the USO Canteen. Where soldiers could come and feel a small part of being at home. It is a place where you that have family in the military can post a thought to a loved one that might be able to read it far away from home. A place where we that support our military can help support them, post to them, fun graphics showing the price in America and our troops. Poems, quotes, cartoons, or articles of how America is behind our troops.

Those in our military are our Nation's warriors. Let us join hands, fly our Flag and let the world know how important our warriors are to us....And that our MILITARY, our Warriors, are America's TRUE HEROS!

"No Marine was ever honored for what they received. Honor was the reward for what they gave." (Anonymous) CHIEF gave his all in many ways. He touched our lives and his friendship meant so much to all of us. He will live in our hearts forever, and his friendship will always be a bright and shining memory in our hearts and souls.

USO Web Site

Join Operation Infinite FReep!

ALL PREVIOUS THREADS

Hi 4, I see you got my ping. Have you brushed your teeth tonight? Just checking.

Your mention of Mt. Rushmore made me think of something that happened there in 82 (as I recall). Jack's band, Lower Forty Grass was playing a concert at the Mt. Rushmore Amphitheatre. The first bluegrass band to ever play there (I have pictures). At the time he had a banjo player who was 6'7" but who could never remember that he was 6'7". That poor kid would bop every door beam he walked under. The band was just getting ready to go on stage and the kid was the first one to "bound" energetically onstage. But, of course, he hit the door jam. He rolled out on stage holding his head and yelling, Ow ow ow! The guitar player just stood over him shaking his head and saying, "Son, son, what in thu world are you adoin'? Git up outa there." Jack just walked to the mic and said, "The show will begin as soon as our banjo player gets his head back on." Those were fun days.

Jack seems to have finally turned a corner. Saturday I thought I was losing him for sure. Rushed him back to the hospital. Yesterday, he showed a bit of improvement, and today he ate pretty well and even asked me to take him down to the studio. Praise the Lord for all His blessings.

Thanks for the story LC.

I once had the honor of meeting Sgt. John Hurd, a B-17 ball turret gunner, whose story I had read in "Castes In The Air". He was a volunteer at the Chino Aircraft Museum. They had a beat-up B-17 there that they would let you walk through for a buck.

When I said he had a familiar face he showed me his picture in the book. I told him I had read it and we had a long conversation about the B-17 and the air war. I got a very personal tour or the plane and was able to get into the cockpit and all the postions except the tail gunner postion. I even tried to get into the ball turret(I was way too tall). How anyone could get into those things for hours at a time, I'll never know.

It's still one of the highlights of my life.

It's always a thrill to get in one of those war planes. Of course I can sit here all night and tell road stories and most of them would deal with the military because that is where the band played the most. One time when we were playing at Altus AFB in Okla. the guys took the band on board one of the big C-5 transport planes. They let us sit in the cockpit and run around inside that big monster. Our son was about 10 or 11 at the time and he was thrilled to death. He sure did have an interesting childhood. I can't remember all the squad numbers and the places, but at different times the Air Force made him an honory pilot, an honory Boomer, and various honory squad member. He has the wings and insignia for all of them. The Thunderbirds took him into their private club and showed him around and gave him all sorts of memorabelia. For years we all felt as if we were in the military because we spent so much time in their clubs.

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.