A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day 7-04-02 thru 7-07-02

"A few of FR's Finest" will return 7-08-02

[Mama_Bear]

Celebrating American Independence Day
July 4, 1776




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Have a safe and happy 4th of July

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

07-01-02 Veterans Group 9
07-02-02 JulieRNR21
07-03-02 Lodwick

[Billie]

Yep - it's a cutie. Soft and sweet.

[Billie]

Thanks! Hugs! LOL

[The Thin Man]

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[COB1]

"Something about that white stuff on your chin"

WELL, I'LL BE DARNED!
You're right!
I went and looked in the mirror!
I know that stuff was black this morning!

[COB1]

Thank you for the compliments, Angelique.
The one you got in e-mail is VERY pretty!
It doesn't matter what form it's in, if I see pictures of our beautiful land and hear music like that, the old heart swells with pride.

[whoever]

I saw that, Billie.

Btw, I wish him one, too, but don't let him know, ok?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Thanks again for the links to the videos Cob! There were beautiful...........

Happy Independence Day wishes sent to far South Texas!

[COB1]

Thanks, Aqua.
I'm on the rig, and me and my rig family are having a great day!
I hope you and yours are as well.

[COB1]

Hey, Texas girl!
Show them thar Yankees how Texans celebrate the Fourth!
You know.........use dynamite for firecrackers!

[The Thin Man]

Happy 4th, who. Billie told me. You should know by now she can't keep a secret.

[whoever]

I AM YOUR FLAG

I am your Flag. I have fought battles, but I prefer the untroubled air of a world at peace.

I am your Flag.
I represent the freedom of humanity, and I shall fly high, thundering in silence for the whole world to hear.
My gentle rustling in the breeze sounds out the warning to all who would bury me forever that below stands a population dedicated to liberty.

For those who have perished for my right to freedom of flight,
for those who will die, and indeed for those who will live,
I stand as a symbol of freedom-loving people.

I have been carried into battle in faraway lands,
always for the cause of freedom.
I am blood-stained, torn, and many times wearied and saddened by the thousands who have paid the supreme sacrifice.

Do not let it all be for nothing.
Tell me the brave have died for a worthwhile cause.
Be proud of what I represent, and display me for all to see.

Whether you call me "Old Glory," Stars and Stripes," or "Star Spangled Banner,"
I shall fly forever as a symbol of your freedom, as I did for your ancestors, and I shall for your heirs.

~By James M. Fillmore~

[LadyX]

To those who made comments on my story on #133, they were much appreciated.
To those who have not yet read it, you'll find the heart of America beats strong and hard, with such examples of loving, God-given spirits.

Only WITH the grace of God can this nation survive.
Those who would attempt to remove Him from our lives only serve to strengthen our faith and fill us with indignation.

May God continue to bless this land founded in His Holy Name ~ ~ ~

[whoever]

One year, Johnny's family was having the "extended family" 4th of July cookout at their home. One of the special treats that year was the lighting of the fireworks (Roman candles, bottle rockets, missile batteries, etc.) they had bought out of state (they're illegal in their state, of course!)

Just before they were to arrive, a cousin calls, saying their neighbor's plans had just fallen through, and could they bring them along to the picnic - they even had extra food to bring. "Sure, the more the merrier!"

Upon arrival and meeting of their cousin's neighbor, it is discovered that he's a police officer. The father turns as innocently as he can to Johnny, and whispers to him to grab the paper bag of fireworks sitting in the kitchen and hide them somewhere quickly. Johnny disappears, and the father changes the topic to food for the day. This family had brought some chicken to grill, so the father tells them the gas grill is all set to use out back - just turn on the gas and push the ignition button with the lid still closed.

They head out to the back as Johnny comes back in through the front door. The father hurries to him and says "Whew, that was close! That man's a police officer, and he almost saw the fireworks. Did you hide them real well?"

"Oh, yeah, nobody will ever think to look in the grill!"

[JulieRNR21]

What a beautiful story...thanks for flagging me to it and for the Kleenex warning....I sure needed them!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Happy 4th, T. I know it must be.

Thank God Billy is home where he belongs. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Thank You, LORD! I pray that God will continue to put a shield of protection over this great country
that HE has so greatly blessed!

Amen to that!!!

Hi, OW, hope your day is a happy one. : )

[LadyX]

It's so good to hear from you, Julie, and when you were honored, too.

Now let's see - HOW MANY polls did we send one another to?!! - - LOLOL

Keep Florida straight for me - my two sons live, respectively, in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

(YES!! They punched the correct chads for GWB!!)

[whoever]

RAGGED OLD FLAG

I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it."

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag.

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when
Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing Say Can You See.
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seems.

"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.

"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II.
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She was sent where she was by her Uncle Sam.

"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land here she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused.

"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more.

"So we raise her up every morning,
take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground
and we fold her up right.
On second thought, I do like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

[ST.LOUIE1]

Morning. Beautiful 4th of July graphic!

Thank yoooou! : )

Enjoy your day today, Mr. Wolf. :)

I did, short, but highly enjoyable.

Had to be home before the fireworks start. My pups go crazy on the 4th. : (

[Freedom2specul8]

Thank you SO MUCH for the ping...I LOVE THIS!

----Kim