USO Canteen FReeper Style....Thursday....April 25,2002

Graphics and Layout by Billie and Written by Snow Bunny and a Thank you to Mama_Bear Today!

[Snow Bunny]

Anchors Aweigh

I am the American Sailor

Hear my voice, America! Though I speak through the mist of 200 years, my shout for freedom will echo through liberty's halls for many centuries to come. Hear me speak, for my words are of truth and justice, and the rights of man. For those ideals I have spilled my blood upon the world's troubled waters. Listen well, for my time is eternal - yours is but a moment.

I am the spirit of heroes past and future. I am the American Sailor. I was born upon the icy shores at Plymouth, rocked upon the waves of the Atlantic, and nursed in the wilderness of Virginia. I cut my teeth on New England codfish, and I was clothed in southern cotton. I built muscle at the halyards of New Bedford whalers, and I gained my sea legs high atop mizzen of Yankee clipper ships.

Yes, I am the American Sailor, one of the greatest seamen the world has ever known. The sea is my home and my words are tempered by the sound of paddle wheels on the Mississippi and the song of whales off Greenland's barren shore. My eyes have grown dim from the glare of sunshine on blue water, and my heart is full of star-strewn nights under the Southern Cross.

My hands are raw from winter storms while sailing down round the Horn, and they are blistered from the heat of cannon broadside while defending our nation. I am the American Sailor, and I have seen the sunset of a thousand distant, lonely lands. I am the American Sailor. It was I who stood tall beside John Paul Jones as he shouted, "I have not yet begun to fight!" I fought upon the Lake Erie with Perry, and I rode with Stephen Decatur into Tripoli harbor to burn Philadelphia.

I met Guerriere aboard Constitution, and I was lashed to the mast with Admiral Farragut at Mobile Bay. I have heard the clang of Confederate shot against the sides of Monitor. I have suffered the cold with Peary at the North Pole, and I responded when Dewey said, "You may fire when ready Gridley," at Manila Bay. It was I who transported supplies through submarine infested waters when our soldier's were called "over there." I was there as Admiral Byrd crossed the South Pole. It was I who went down with the Arizona at Pearl Harbor, who supported our troops at Inchon, and patrolled dark deadly waters of the Mekong Delta.

I am the American Sailor and I wear many faces. I am a pilot soaring across God's blue canopy and I am a Seabee atop a dusty bulldozer in the South Pacific. I am a corpsman nursing the wounded in the jungle, and I am a torpedoman in the Nautilus deep beneath the North Pole. I am hard and I am strong.

But it was my eyes that filled with tears when my brother went down with the Thresher, and it was my heart that rejoiced when Commander Shepherd rocketed into orbit above the earth. It was I who languished in a Viet Cong prison camp, and it was I who walked upon the moon. It was I who saved the Stark and the Samuel B. Roberts in the mine infested waters of the Persian Gulf. It was I who pulled my brothers from the smoke filled compartments of the Bonefish and wept when my shipmates died on the Iowa and White Plains. When called again, I was there, on the tip of the spear for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

I am the American Sailor. I am woman, I am man, I am white and black, yellow, red and brown. I am Jew, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist. I am Irish, Filipino, African, French, Chinese, and Indian. And my standard is the outstretched hand of Liberty. Today, I serve around the world, on land, in air, on and under the sea. I serve proudly, at peace once again, but with the fervent prayer that I need not be called again.

Tell your children of me. Tell them of my sacrifice, and how my spirit soars above their country. I have spread the mantle of my nation over the ocean and I will guard her forever. I am her heritage and yours.

I AM THE AMERICAN SAILOR
Author unknown.


In Loving Memory
CDR. Clyde D. Killion, USN
YO1 L. H. Nash, USN

[MeekOneGOP]

Hat's off to you, Snow Bunny, and Billie, and Mama_Bear. And may God bless our sailors
and all of our service men and women wherever on this planet they may be. Salute!

bump!

[Iowa Granny]

Good Morning. The coffee is ready. Breakfast is being served in the Canteen: French Toast w/maple syrup, sausage links, fresh fruit and an assortment of juices. Enjoy your day!

[Norb2569]

Happy Navy Day!

[Pippin]

Good Morning,SB! What a beautiful poem about the American Sailor. I got a lump in my throat while reading it. I salute all American Sailors. God bless the U.S. Navy!

[ofMagog]

Posted also on yesterday's thread:

As I have described before, the only truly unnerving times were going by bus to get to the indoor swimming pool, past the Rifle Range where there were always hundreds of men training. The waves of yells and calls and whistles rolled like thunder across the terrain...

Sounds a lot like the crew when you and Snow Bunny bathe behind that chickenwire "screen" Scuttlebutt put up.

Current Local Time Thu Apr 25 00:22:54 2002
19.50S 175.39W
Headed to North Island, NZ

[MeekOneGOP]

Officer fatally shot responding to call....
first White Settlement officer dies in line of duty
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/672536/posts

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Snow Bunny!

Good morning, ALL!

YES !! GO NAVY!!!!!!

To all my brothers & sisters serving in the Navy & US Forces,

May God bless you & keep you safe.

GO NAVY!!!!!!

[LadyX]

Good Morning, Snow Bunny!
Will be away all day today at the VA Medical Center in Augusta, so will not be active
until this evening.
My heart, however, is here at the USO Canteen, and with all our military around the world -
and their families.

May they always know how deeply we appreciate their efforts and personal sacrifices;
and how we pray for their well-being.
May God be with you, wherever you are ~ ~ ~

[lodwick]

Thanks for the great splash. Cheers!

[LadyX]

Special greetings to the crew of the USS DECATUR DDG 73, from a Marine who served during the Korean Conflict.

And always special (((hugs))) to our resident tin can sailor, 'recycled' these days
into the Coast Guard Auxiliary!
Love ya, Tonk.

[LadyX]

Now that you mention it, Mon Capitan, it would be helpful if you issued a new
'Don't Look while Snow Bunny and LadyX are using that Facility' Order.

It is so tacky to have the other vessel crews in the flotilla seeing the guys hanging in the rigging
when we are there......

[firewalk]

Good morning & a big NAVY bump!
hope the Marine i married doesn't see this, or i'll really be in big trouble...lol!)

[aomagrat]

The sailor stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes where shining
Just as brightly as his brass
"Step forward now sailor,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"
The sailor squared his shoulders and said,
"No Lord I guess I ain't,
Those of us who carry guns can't always be saints.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough,
And sometimes I've been violent
Because the world is awfully rough.
But I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I have worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just to steep.
And I never passed a cry for help.
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you have a place for me here Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected to had much,
But if you don't I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints have often trod
As the sailor waited quietly
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now you sailor,
You've borne your burden well,
Walk peacefully on heaven's streets,
You have done your time in Hell."

To all that serve.
Author Unknown

[SassyMom]

Good Morning! It's a beautiful COOL morning here! YIPPEE!

Thank you SB for this thread honoring the Navy! I thank ALL of the troops that are fighting to keep this wonderful country safe and free.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Thanks for posting the inspirational messages.

GO NAVY!!!!

Amograt....my southern brother....thanks for posting that story.

Tonk... your love for this country and your continued service ARE NOT unnoticed. You make this NAVY brother very proud...

Snow Bunny....your and Billie's hard work and dedication to these threads, which salute and support our servicemen and women, mean much more than we can possibly fathom. Our service man and women are NOT thanked enough...

Standing at attention, giving nice, sharp, salute to all of ya....... Kermit

[Taxman]

Awesome! A keeper! Thanx.

[ofMagog]

Take it up with Scuttlebutt.
He's in charge of such matters.
Rumor has it he is somewhat sober tonight.

[Taxman]

And we must not forget the Naval Aviators.

A Navy Flyer's Creed

I am a United States Navy Flyer.
My countrymen built the best airplane in the world and entrusted it to me. They trained me to fly it. I will use it to the absolute limit of my power.
With my fellow pilots, aircrews, and deck crews, my plane and I will do anything necessary to carry out our tremendous responsibilities. I will always remember we are part of an unbeatable combat team -- the United States Navy.
When the going is fast and rough, I will not falter.
I will be uncompromising in every blow I strike.
I will be humble in victory.
I am a United States Navy Flyer. I have dedicated myself to my country, with its many millions of all races, colors and creeds. They and their way of life are worthy of my greatest protection effort.
I ask the help of God in making that effort great enough.

[SAMWolf]

US Navy Oath of Enlistment

I, __________, in lieu of going to prison, swear to sign away 4 years of my life to the United States Navy because I want to hang out with Marines without actually having to BE one of them, because I thought the Air Force was too "corporate," and because I thought, "hey, I like to swim...why not?"

I promise to wear clothing that went out of style in 1976 and to have my name stenciled on the butt of every pair of pants I own. I understand that I will be mistaken for the Good Humor man during the summer, and for Waffen SS during the winter.

I will strive to use a different language than the rest of the English-speaking world. using words like "deck, bulkhead, cover, and head" instead of "floor, wall, hat, and toilet." I will take great pride in the fact that all Navy acronyms, rank and ensignia, and everything else for that matter, are completely different from the other services and make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I will muster (whatever that is) at 0700 hrs every morning unless I am buddy-buddy with the Chief, in which case I will show up around 0930 hours.

I vow to hone my coffee cup handling skills to the point that I can stand up in a kayak being tossed around in a typhoon, and still not spill a drop.

I consent to being promoted and subsequently busted at least twice per fiscal year. I realize that, once selected for Chief, I am required to submit myself to the sick, and quite possibly illegal, whims of my new-found "colleagues."

So help me Neptune.

___________________________________________

Signature / Date

[SassyMom]

ROFLOL.....