USO Canteen FReeper Style....Monday Mail Call....May 13,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

Our troops need our support and encouragement. They are away from home, some for the first time, and usually lonely or discouraged. It is important for us to reach out and help them in the same way we would want someone to reach out to our loved ones if and when they are in the same position.

They answered their call and we are answering theirs offering them the USO Canteen FReeper Style each day and thanking them for serving.

This is IN Coming Mail from some of those serving now.

We at the USO Canteen FReeper Style, a running thread at Free Republic, are proud to support our Military. The mail comes in from contacting some of our Military Bases, Marine Corps Leagues , and friends and family of those serving now. Also from responses at the wonderful P.O.Box that 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub has made so easily available to each of us here at Free Republic.

They are writing to those that frequent the FReeper USO Canteen to thank you for your support.

I work with damage-control and small-boats on a guided missile destroyer,I just want to thank you at the Canteen for your support. Thank you for being there for all of us. Sometimes you feel like you are all alone out here, then I get online and get to read the Canteen.
My girl broke up with me right before I left. I guess that could be the story for a lot of us .
My mom is all I have back home and she can’t afford a computer . She writes to me when she can and it is good to hear from her.
A buddy back at the base told me about an email he got from a creature with a heart, named Snow Bunny. It had the web address for Free Republic and told how the founder had been a Navy man and how everyone respected him. That he was a heck of a guy and had this place at Free Republic called the Canteen.
One lonely day I checked it out and sat here with , darn it anyway, tears rolling down my face.
I never saw anything like it in my life. OH I have surfed the web in school before I enlisted, but this is a whole new ballgame. The Canteen is my home now away from home.
All of you make a difference and your support means more then you may know. One of the things that makes it more real to me then just a place on the web are several things I’d like to share with you.
You know you all can be serious and then on a dime laugh and have fun and I like that. I like the way the day gears down just like life at home does. When you have done your business in the day and sit around with friends in the evening and cut up.
None of us here could be intense all day and the way the Canteen moves into night is why it feels so much like home too.
Thanks for being there .

Mark A.

Command Master Chief , right before 9-11 my wife and I had just gotten settled in our new home. I have 3 kids and a beautiful wife. Then I was transferred to Norfolk and then shipped out.
I missed Christmas but I know being here has helped preserve our freedom for the future. Only have a minute this time to write Snow Bunny. I know that other stuff I asked you not to pass on helped me to be able to share when I needed it most.
This time I do want you to pass something on to someone.
Whoever has a fan here and please tell whoever that for me. I wasn’t sure if whoever was a man or woman at first, but then I watched the reactions and the tenderness and could tell. So thanks for what you bring in your basket when you visit the Canteen.
I read every thread all the way through and it is powerful stuff. Thanks Snow Bunny for caring so much about us and making a place I can see others that care too.

Stephen A.

Air Force Sgt

Hey Snow Bunny, I am Charlie, just Charlie OK !!!!
Thanks for the Canteen from my heart .
I guess you can call me a lurker but that sure sounds weird. I can’t enter in but I can tell you I have read every day of the Canteen since March.I can’t get to it every day, so I go back and see what I missed when I do have the time.
Some of the ones I like are the one you call HiJinx, 4TheFlag,and you call this one Tonkin. Tell that Tonkin guy the Air Force knows how to spell. LOL , Victoria Delsoul and a mystomachisturning. You have to change that name beautiful girl, with your bubbly personality , AFVetGal one of our own, and this one gets me every time, Deadhead. That one reminds me of a rock group, but I have a crush on Deadhead and SassyMom.
Snow Bunny thanks for making it so I could write to you. Someday maybe I can tell you more about me. But you have been supper about it with a friend of mine and he said Bunny is AOK.

Hang in there and we will too.
Our friend,
Charlie

Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class

It is because of you all and your support and caring about us, that I am strengthened and makes me proud to serve our country. Please tell SAMWolf , my brother could use his talents. I saw where he was the head scrounger at the Canteen. I think my kid brother is headed in that direction when he gets in the Army. Bad boy turned “Bad Boy” in many ways and a heart as big as a ship.
Whoever whoever is, could you tell this whoever being that I have saved and sent a lot of things from whoever to my nephew and his wife. They have the time to pass it on to the rest of the family. Tell whoever thanks for the fun stories and jokes.
Snow Bunny, thanks for doing this for me. I never met anyone like you, not sure how I could thank you enough and Billie. So please know that you are making a difference out here and if your ears are burning it is because we are talking about you in awesome ways. God just gave some people bigger hearts and you Snow Bunny and Billie are two girls that got them.
God bless you all at the Canteen and thank you Free Republic for being all to so many of us.
James K.L.

Air Force 1st Lt

Mr. Jim Robinson and ladies and gentlemen of the Canteen. Thank you for your magnificent support and dedication, day in day out for all of us. You make a difference in my life. I printed out a copy of the logo for Free Republic with the Eagle and all and have it inside on my plane. Just so you know it is right next to a very sexy blonde. I didn’t think you would mind. Apple pie and moms and sexy blondes are all American.
I just wanted you to know your efforts are noticed and not just by me.
Your support means we have Americans that care about us and that goes a long way believe me.

Tim B.

[SpookBrat]

Hey there chicklet. You canged your name. How come? Nice to see you. :)

[SpookBrat]

Thanks SAM. I've missed your sense of humor. You always make my day.

[SassyMom]

Wellll, right now she uses a CO2 Pellet Pistol. She doesn't come close to them, they just laugh at her. She has tried putting balloons in and around the tree, she tried red pepper and just got watery eyes, she tried putting a net over the tree. But, the little squirrels are fat and happy and love her pecan tree. When we go and visit you can hear the squirrels running across the roof to get to the pecan tree. lol

[SAMWolf]

Sorry Ladies.

[SpookBrat]

Where have I been all this time? Well, yes, out at the beach a lot actually. When I'm not at the beach, I'm catching tadpoles, frogs and minnows with the kids. Or I'm cooking my DH a good dinner. Poor guy didn't eat right at all while we were a part. What's up with you?

[Aquamarine]

My husband shoots them (squirrels) with his rifle. He has to keep them thinned out around here, they can be a real nuisance.

[SpookBrat]

Sassy, you got a new car? What did you get?

Meek and Sassy, I just got two inches cut off my nappy, mop head. Oh, and Sassy, I'm getting a TAN!!! ROFL With REAL sun too. hahaha! Well, actually, to be fair, it's just my freckles getting darker. You should see Jonah. He is as brown as an indian.

Meek, how is darling Ming?

Have y'all been getting bad weather? I'll bet my house flooded again. I keep hoping for a call from my MIL telling us, our house burned down. Keeping my fingers crossed in Florida.

[SAMWolf]

"A stud finder turns out to be some gizmo that locates two-by-fours."

[Aquamarine]

I've been pretty busy this spring. Went back to work part time and putting a vegetable garden in. Were going to Florida next week for vacation (west coast), and I can't wait.
Doesn't Jacksonville just have the best beach? You can find alot of seashells there and even surf. I surfed there many moons ago. :)

[deadhead]

"shhh...do you have these???"

If I do, I hope his name is Casper :-)

~~~deadhead~~~Have a great night all

[Snow Bunny]

I loved reading about your son.His letter to you says a lot about him. I can see why you are a proud mom.That is great.

Thank you so much!!

[SassyMom]

LOL..... this is my new car..... *giggle* Snow Bunny found them for us.

We have been getting a few thunderstorms a week. Nothing to big, just a lot of lightning. I think areas around Weatherford and Denton have had some hail. Last Friday lightning struck the power pole in front of our house. There wasn't any damage, just a big BOOM and then it was dark... lol

[whoever]

..since I'm still trying to determine if you even exist.

Skinny, do you mean with all the pain I cause you, you still aren't sure????

[Snow Bunny]

LOL...hhahahahahahaha.....

Your amazing, you can find anything. hahahahahahahahaa

[SAMWolf]

My Son, the child, the man, the Soldier

[Snow Bunny]

giggle..I think it is cute how the servicemen wasn't sure and now that he has figured it out he is crazy about you. I love it. heh heh Your so cute Who!

[redhead]

Here's a fun link from my website. How to cut a 5-pointed star in one snip

[SAMWolf]

by Mrs. Olen D. Cogan

I'm looking back upon my life as so-called military wife.

It was a challenge-and indeed-a life that also takes a special breed.

I had to do more than my share, because my spouse was seldom there.

He was a soldier first of all; he was prepared to fight and fall for God and
country, but I knew, his love for me would see me through.

We met, got married-from the start the Army kept us lots apart.

The field-the duty-TDY…no use complaining, asking "why?"

It seemed forever and a day-my soldier-husband was away.

I asked myself, well, was it fair, to buy the house-he wasn't there?

I'd changed from being a descendant-the Army called me a dependent…
but here I was, I bought the house, became an independent spouse.

A year went by, I had to learn that Army policies were stern.

My faith began to ward and tear, I bore his child, he wasn't there.

So no more kids, I could have sworn, but two more kids were promptly born.

At first I thought to move was grand, but then we moved from land to land with
pots and pans and household-gear, for thirty years-ONCE every year.

I clinched my teeth, I pulled my hair, another move, he wasn't there.

He went to Nam, three yeas went by, I prayed to God he wouldn't die; and
even though I felt alone and asked myself "Will he be home?"

And even though three years were long, I somehow managed to stay strong.

I hugged the children, they were sad and always asking for their Dad.

I tried to make them understand, how much we all to Daddy meant.

Yes, every minute, every day he loved us in a special way.

It seemed too much for them to bear, a thousand times he wasn't there.

Three years they only had their Mom, but pretty soon their Dad would come.

He loved his country, served with pride, his plea for freedom never died.
He did what he had sworn to do, he stood behind "red, white, and blue."

And now I know, it all was fair, he had no worries, I was there.

[whoever]

..wasn't sure and now that he has figured it out he is crazy

If they only had a glimpse of the love, respect and admiration I have for them, but, there is just no I can explain it. So, I post.

[Jen]

HAHAHAHA! Is that the real caption that came with that cartoon?