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

Coteblanche and Snow Bunny

[JohnHuang2]

Morning -- hope you had a Very Happy 4th, too!

[ArneFufkin]

I can't figure it out ... I keep thinking my pager went off.

[JohnHuang2]

Morning, amigo -- hope your 4th was as enjoyable as mine was!

[Snow Bunny]

Tonkin, hi thank you.I just read about your day,it was so neat to read about it.

((((((((((((((( hug )))))))))))))

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Hi John!
Always nice seeing one of FR's legends in the Canteen.

[Mo1]

FOFL ...

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks -- same here!

[American Preservative]

timydnuc posted this beautiful composition on another thread, and I think it's appropriate here as well. Feel free to mega-ping this post if you wish. : ) Mega thanks!

To our military: G*d bless you and THANK YOU!

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

"Little Stitches" by timydnuc

When I was a kid, I used to walk to the movie house. I'd look at the flag in the courthouse square. I always will remember how good it made me feel. My feelings actually went beyond just a good, warm feeling, the sight of that flag made me feel safe, and loved. That flag has always made me feel that way.

The sight of that flag always made me think that I could do anything, and so many times it proved my feeling right. I used to take the flag down at our house when I was a kid. I remember feeling the stitches and thinking that it is a piece of many cloths, sewn together by delicate thread. But, when it was all together it was a symbol of the greatest love, and the greatest strength this world has ever seen.I remember thinking that as long as I could see that flag I would always be home.

When I was a young lad of 19 years I went half way around the world to fight a war for that flag, and all it stood for. I was scared, and I was lonely, till I saw that flag, then I was home. I was eating dinner with my family, I was kissing my girl goodnight, I was looking at the stars in my backyard. As we left base camp for a 3 week patrol I would stand, silent and still, for a moment looking at the flag. A tear would come to my eye, and a prayer on my lips..."God, make me good enough to die for my country if I must, and make me good enough to live for it if I can".

Well, He must of had a higher purpose for me, because here I am, typing this. Today I raised that flag, just after dawn. I took it in my hands and I looked at those little stitches that hold together those pieces of cloth. I had a shudder of life run up my spine, and a tear came to my eye. A great banner of many cloths held together by those little stitches. That flag protects me, and my family. It makes us feel safe, it brings us home, it gives us comfort, it binds us together and makes us one. Those little stitches holding together those pieces of varied cloth, they bring me home and protect me.

As my flag took it's first breath of the morning breeze it snapped and started flying, proudly in that breeze. I felt so safe standing there under it. It was shouting it's defiance against enemies, it was waving it's call of unity and freedom for all Americans. It reminded me that I was a part of the greatest thing that mankind has ever done. I could almost hear those little stitches say..."We'll hold these pieces of cloth together, and we'll do it as long as it takes. When we are done, and we can't do it anymore there will be more of us to do this thing again, and again, and again". These are the little stitches that keep our nation together. They are you and I, they are your neighbor, and your crazy cousin. They are Freepers, and the Robinsons, and all the "faithful". We're all little stitches that hold together the pieces of cloth that make up our nation. When we see it, we feel safe, and we walk home, unafraid.

Timy

[MistyCA]

Hi bunny! So glad that you and Fallguy had a great day! Good to see you back here! It was such a beautiful thread. You and Cote did a fabulous job getting it all started! Spectacular! To say the very least! :)

[ArneFufkin]

John, I don't mess with that commercialized prepackaged fireworks falderol. I'm more of a back to basics guy.

Molatov Cocktails bruddah! The little warlike b*stards with their bottle rockets learned a lesson in massive retaliation today! ;^)*

I really did nothing but sit my lazy butt in front of this screen and wax incoherently here on FR all day. Tomorrow is my celebration, up to the lake and copious violations of many codes and regulations surrounding gunpowder products. And fishin', and boatin', and walleye chowing and beer sampling around pull tab glory. *Kidding. I really ... li ... enj ... well, put up ponderously with 13 year old doofuses who happen to be my nephew and his sad sack pals.

[MistyCA]

Thank you for that wonderful post. I enjoyed reading what Timy wrote very much! :)

[JohnHuang2]

hehehehehehehehehehehehehe

[Light Speed]

Glad you had a great day...
There is so much wonder for us to behold.

The Glories above

Hidden..In the Palm of His Hand.....[Can you spot the little one?]

[ArneFufkin]

Thanks for posting this American Preservative - and thanks for writing this timy. It's really poignant. I love this stuff - you can't get enough exposure to sentiments of honor, gratitude, humility and joyful appreciation for our lives and blessings to be free and prosperous Americans in 2002. God has graced us mightily.

[American Preservative]

Re: #648

You're welcome, of course! : ) I know, it's just...beautiful! : )

[MistyCA]

Hi, John! HOpe you had a wonderful day! :)

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks, my friend -- had a GREAT DAY! Hope you and yours did, too =^)

[MistyCA]

Those pictures are really neat!

[JohnHuang2]

It's really poignant.

It sure is -- I choked up. Haven't read anything that beautiful, that moving yet.