USO Canteen FReeper Style....Happy 4th of July !!!!

Coteblanche and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

.

.

Come Fly With Us
On A Patriotic Journey

God Bless America

.

Graphic by Paul Atreides

.

.

The Good Guys Wear White Hats

Hail to the Chiefs

Memories

.

The Declaration of Independence by Trumbull

The First Couple

The Gettysburg Address

.

What GeorgeW loves to call
The People's House

.

An Attorney-General to be proud of...

.

<,p>.

.

A little Sousa anyone?

Liberty Bell.....Semper Fidelis.....Stars and Stripes

Washington Post.....King Cotton.....El Capitan

.....Crusader.....Our Flirtations ;-).....The Presidential Polonaise.....

.

Patriotic Medley

.

For an 1812 Overture accompaniment, click here.

.

Good Night

God Bless

****************

Turn out the lights

The party's over

.

Return to top of page

.................................................................................................................................................................................

.

~ A Message from Snow Bunny ~

4 July is not just a day to party, cook out,
go to the beach, or recreate in a myriad of ways.

4 July has a much more profound meaning.

4 July is all about: Belleau Woods,
Inchon, Khe Sahn, Guadalcanal, Kuwait,
Tarawa, Chosin Reservoir, Grenada,
Bougainville, Hue City, Panama, Iwo Jima,
Somalia, Beirut, Peleilu, and many
other places where the price of freedom came due.

4 July is a day of celebration in our nation
precisely because of what so many unsung
heroes were willing to do
in order to make it so.

4 July comes and goes every year,
overshadowed often by summer vacations
and busy schedules.

4 July, however, brings to the forefront
in many hearts, the knowledge of what America might be
if not for the courage, sacrifice,
and dedication of the finest of her sons and daughters.

4 July is a day for every Veteran,
and those serving, to receive the recognition
that should come from a people,
who owe the precious gift of freedom to these gallant warriors
and servants of our Constitution..

4 July is a day in which we,
the "protected," stand and salute you.
Your efforts often go unrewarded and unrecognized
in a manner befitting you.

4 July is a day for at least myself
and you wonderful Freepers, to attempt
to honor these men and women properly
and to say, "Thank You."

What you have done, and continue to do
every day, makes it possible
for my family and I
to celebrate on 4 July,
and to live in "The Land Of The Free."

We can never repay you sufficiently for this privilege.

May God bless each of you!

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!!! Yeah right!

You're always late but I don't care
Because your friendship is special
Like the flowers that bloom
Or the fireworks you dare.

You remind me of those fireworks
Loving and free
Bright and colorful
For the world to see.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I just had the best 4th of July ever!
As you know for months I studied to be a fully qualified radio watchstander at the local Coast Guard base.
In May I passed the Coast Guard test and oral review board
It's the same exact course and test(s) the regular Coast Guard do.
Well I've stood watches, by myself, since then.
But today was the 1st time I was a key element in a rescue of an elderly couple
who's boat had engine failure a few miles out in the ocean.
My duty as radio watchstander includes getting the 1st information (the distress call) correct
so the Coast Guard boat and crew can perform the rescue.
I also handle and log all the radio traffic.
I keep the OOD at the base (Officer of the Deck) informed of all movements.
He then determines if he wants any changes.
If he does I then radio his orders to the Coast Guard boat on scene.
I'm like an "assistant coach" during a big game.
Only it's no game, lives are at stake, of those in distress and those on the rescue boat.
There is no room for error, everything must be done per policy.
It was the 1st time I again served in uniform on the 4th of July while our country is at war.
As a Coast Guard Auxiliary member and Coast Guard trained and qualified for my duties I legally represent the Coast Guard while I am on watch.
In fact during my watch I am also subject to the provisions of the Unifomed Code of Military Justice.

I also had the chance to stand by for my regular relief (regular Coast Guard) for several hours.
His mom paid a suprise visit to see her son on the 4th.
They had not seen each other for months.

I did nothing extrodinary today.
I just did what I was trained to do.
But it did help me repay my country for my FReedom.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Well, thank you very much. Very kind of you to say so. LOL

[GatorGirl]

Thanks, SAM--for the beautiful photos you have posted all day.

Love, GG

[MistyCA]

LMAO!

[4TheFlag]

But have faith, Mother Nature (as designated by the Creator, of course) is more powerful than the misguided environmentalists, all will be back to normal soon--hopefully! (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) GG

I know, HE will bring things back better than before!!!

I am just so glad they have saved the cities of Deadwood and Lead (pronounced LEED), with minimal structural loss...

Our Governor (Janklow) doesn't mess around, we had 7 bombers and 600 firefighters in here posthaste!

[Light Speed]

Now its time for regional service to Southern Lebanon...Time to Visit Al Qaeda and Hizbullah

[4TheFlag]

Hey there Brother, welcome HOME and thank you for your service:)J

[GatorGirl]

God Bless You, dear Tonkin--and Happy Independence Day--you deserve all our respect for what you do each day. I'm proud to call you my FRiend!! Love, GG

[4TheFlag]

GREAT pic LS, thanks!!!

[GatorGirl]

God Bless You! Thank you for being my FRiend!!

You know--you, Diver Dave, Tonkin (and of course, our wonderful Snow Bunny) were the first ones to welcome me to the Canteen back on that lonely night in December. I'll never forget your kindness. I know it's not Thanksgiving, but a day like this makes me count my blessings as well... and one of mine is Free Republic and the USO Canteen, FReeper Style!

You have my eternal gratefulness!!! Love, GG

Good night, ALL......

[MistyCA]

Hey, Jen! Good to see you!

[slym]

Great fireworks!

[SAMWolf]

[SAMWolf]

OK! So I need to proof read better!

[WVNan]

Glad they seem to have a handle on it. You're right about one thing. The Lord can repair any damage that human beings do. Man's arrogance is astounding, to think that he is bigger and more powerful than the Almighty God.

[4TheFlag]

Good night GG, sleep SAFE...I am very humbled by your remarks..WOW..THANK YOU GG..

See you tomorrow FRiend!

Jack

[Jen]

How wonderful about your assistance in the Coast Guard's rescue of the elderly couple! I'm so proud of you and proud to call you one of my FRiends! Jen

[MistyCA]

I have made several of those cakes and they are the best, especially with custard filling and whipped cream frosting! Yummmm! :))