USO Canteen FReeper Style Monday Mail Call .... August 12,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style Our Troops and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

.

.

If you know a Veteran, someone in your family,
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank them.
Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.

We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper Style,
are thankful for every service member
in our military, who has served our great nation.

So, to the men and women who answered the call,
in both times of war and peace, thank you.

.

.

Message from Snow Bunny to all those who visit the Canteen.

This is how I think of the USO Canteen Freeper Style.
It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night.

Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too.
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of place
that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, a library, etc.

Many Veterans have written to me,
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they served.

This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy
and sometimes troubling world.
Make yourself at home...............................................................................................................................................................................

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.

ALL the mail posted on Monday Mail Call is Recent Mail from the prior week.

Snow Bunny
Hi babe! Thanks for your fast response, it sure meant a lot .
Since my grandparents are from Scotland it was really
Something to see the bag pipes with the great Colorado
Patriots supporting us.

I had a lump in my throat to see the work they did to get
together for us, to support us like that!

God bless the Canteen and all of you for doing your part
back home. It is felt and appreciated.
Steven
USAF

Snow Bunny ,
Hi Canteen !
I had a great day with you on Tues.August 6th.
LindaSOG had presented Why I love America
and I wish I could have shared why I love
America too. So I am doing it in this email.

I love my country because in all the places I
have traveled it is not just my homeland, but
a symbol of freedom to me and to the entire
world. And to keep America free it comes at
a cost as it always has. For some higher then
others but always at a cost. And you better
believe it is worth any cost to keep it FREE!

You all know that at the USO Canteen Freeper
Style and it shows every time I get to visit.
I want to thank you for your faithful patriotism
to our land that will stay free .

Thank you LindaSOG and the Canteen.

Your friend
Adam
USARMY

Hey Snow Bunny
What a group you have there and what a place
The Canteen is and FR too.
I say it is MOM, Apple Pie and the Canteen!

Keep it up and I will pass the word along.Thank
You for all of your support of us.

Sandy
USAF

Snow Bunny and all the Canteen,
I vote for all the Canteen Girlz as you spell it!
Victoria I wish I was a leopard or tiger you
could tame me anytime.

MEOW

Love and kisses to all the Girlz
Johnny
USMC

Hello Snow Bunny,
The Canteen knocks my socks off!
Souris I want to put you in my pocket, you
would fit just right ! LOL What a doll you
are! I am in love here or should I say a fan
of yours.
I would like to thank you Snow Bunny
and every one at the Canteen for the best
support of what we are doing I have ever>br> seen. You must be the most special people
that I will ever meet in my life even in cyber
space.

Love you all and kisses
Marc
USMC

Dear Snow Bunny
Right now I am on the move so I am not sure if I
I will be able to see the Canteen for a week or two.
The last few months I have been able to catch it
almost everyday and it means an awful lot when I
can.

My Dad heard about Free Republic from a friend
at the gym he goes to. So he wrote to me about the
Canteen that it was about what we are doing .
Thanks Dad for all you do and for being my Dad.

When you count those addicted to the Canteen –Hey
count me in on that.( raising my hand)

I would like to give one of the special Bunny hugs to
Kathy in Alaska, Radu, Souris,Bluesagewoman,MoJo2001
and welcome you to the Canteen.
Thank you for the trip to New York and the beautiful
music Victoria ( I could be home by Christmas heh heh)
honest I’m not sure when I will be home.

God Bless the USA and God Bless the Canteen!
Kyle
USMC

SpookBrat and Snow Bunny
I want to get this off to you both right now.
SpookBrat your sharing about your father, well,it
touched my heart deeply. For awhile now I thank
God every time I get to come to the Canteen. And
today I thanked him for your father and his service.
Men like your Father SpookBrat are heros and should
be thanked.
Snow Bunny, you have the best friends at the Canteen
I can feel the care each one of you have for each other.
Then add in the best support system for all of us I have
ever seen or felt. Thank you Canteeners.

God be with you all and your loved ones.
Tandy
USAF

Dear Snow Bunny,
WOW! What a place, what a group you all are!
Everyone adding their own special touches every
single day of the week.Holy Cow! ( cleaned that one up
for the ladies.LOL)

Aomagrat thank you for the history of war ships.
I sure do love reading about these ships and how it
effected our county with the wars.

Mr_Magoo my Dad loves what I send him about
the planes, he is a WW11 vet .

Samwolf, my mom wrote me she saw me in one of
the pictures you had posted. She said she cried and
I just want to thank you for what you do everyday.

Tomkow6, you are a natural! I swear you have me
laughing so hard every time I get to visit the Canteen.
Tell those voices in your head they are brilliant! ROTFLMO

I want to thank everyone of you, because you all have
made me laugh and feel at home. I know I will not be
able to remember everyone and it concerns me. Because
you all make my day a better one.

Victoria Delsoul what beautiful graphics you choose
for the topics of each day, beautiful like you are. I can
tell the care you take with them.
] Then the music , thanks so much!!!

Souris I would say you are as cute as a bug in a rug, but
that is an insult for the sexiest, cutest mouse in the world.
Thank you for the smiles on my face seeing what you
come up with everyday. LOL

AntiJen , a Vet and a beautiful girl in one package with a
personality that is such fun. I can have one of your hugs,
see I am a guy so don’t worry about the NHH stuff with me.
LOL Oh God help me all you girls are hilarious!

Coteblanche how do I tell you what it means, to have one of our>br> Canadian friends live and in person everyday supporting us and
our Canadian friends, serving with us in this war. You have the
gift of graciousness and giving that makes meeting you a gift
to all of us.

MistyCA bet you didn’t know I knew you were gone. LOL
Sure did and counted the days along with everyone else . But
I hope you took a better vehicle then the one with the Beverly
Hillbillies. LOL I am a big fan of your 666 situations you get
yourself into. HUG

SpookBrat you have me laughing with your humor and
how you say the things going on with you. You’re a doll
SpookBrat.

SassyMom and your Bad Boy. I think of the two of you as
the Canteen sweethearts. Hey SassyMom, I think your guy
Kneezles must laugh to himself when he gets you to blush.
The two of you show me there is hope for me finding the
right girl for me someday.

Kathy in Alaska what a girl you are. I saw you tell everyone
how you had watched the Canteen like we do here. I sure
am glad you joined in and I can tell everyone else is too.
You’re a living doll and your enthusiasm is contagious.

Radu, your name is intriguing to me. You are sweet and I
hope to see more of you.

MoJo2001 thank you for the music and your support of us.
Thank your husband for serving and tell him he is a lucky
guy.

Hi Jinx I found the Canteen the day you were the Freeper Friday
Veteran. I salute you my brother.

Johnny Gage my cousin is a firefighter in New York. So I
noticed your trucks right away. Thanks!

LindaSOG the remarkable history lessons each time I am there.
I think I would like to ask for tutoring if it is ok with you.
Something we could do over a nice dinner and a bottle of
wine. You could tell me all the history you want and I would
love every minute of it.

I apologize to those I did not mention. That concerned me
when I wanted to write this email to Snow Bunny. God sent
you all and the Canteen into my life. Enlisting after Sept.11th,
was one of those things I had to do or how could I enjoy my
freedom that others were going to fight for.

Thanks again everybody !
Joe
USARMY

Jim Robinson and Snow Bunny and the Canteeners,br> Free Republic is the best place on the net. I have watched
it grow over the years. As a lurker I can tell you that with
the USO Canteen Freeper Style joining in , it is the finest
addition to FR that I have seen . Jim Robinson is my own
personal hero for many reasons. Thank you sir for FR and
the Freeper USO Canteen.

Lurkers may stay lurkers for a long time but we love FR
no matter if we post or not. So I wanted you to know that
all your work and that of the Canteeners to take a running
thread and turn it into a place as you have is remarkable.

Kathy in Alaska your stepping forward like you did has
brought yet an added light to the shining lights of others
at the Canteen and FR.

Bless you all for what you mean in my life. The Canteen is
a place of comfort and support to an old veteran like me.

Jake
Conservative & Vietnam Veteran
USMC

Hi Crew!
Just a quickie note here ( I know ok BAD Boys let’s keep it
it clean my MOM is watching ROTFL)
Lots going on here right now so not a lot of time
to dig in and write as much as we want to. But since
the Canteen is our second home we miss all of you.

SpookBrat we did catch your Pirate post to us. LOL
Thanks for thinking of all of us.

Hey Tonk,are you driving the girls wild in your uniform?
Lookin good Tonk our brother!

Misty we need to talk about your traveling like that with
those hillbillies. LOL
Thanks guys for the jokes , besides gut laughs from us,
they even got us out of a little trouble the other day.
Long story, we were asked to scrounge a bit and then
got in a little misunderstanding about who asked us and
why. LOL It goes with the calling, Sam you know what
that means. That higher calling of being a scrounger and
a Bad Boy. Magoo, Tomkow and Kneezles you saved the
day !

Hey Starman sir, are we taking a test too? Here are our
answers ahead of time. Moonlight and Stars
guide a sailor in his dreams. ( pretty romantic huh)
as long as they stay up where they belong we will
make us of them down here.LOL
Not bad for a scrounger.
Canteen Bad Boys Kiss the girls for us !

Joe, Marty, Al, and myself Scully the Scrounger
Scully and the Pirates
USNavy

Dear Snow Bunny and Canteen supporters
I wanted to write and thank you for your
belief in us and your support.

Yesterday was my 4th time at your Canteen.
You did the theme about the Purple Heart and
the story behind it. Thank you, my Dad loved
it when I sent it to him. He is going to register
at FR now because of the Canteen. He will get
into FR big time as he loves politics.
Dad is a Korean War Veteran and will love the
Canteen too.

The Canteen and the Poetry Branch are where I
like to spend my online time when I get it. Dad
sent me a journal to jot down things I write so I
can one day send you something for the Poetry
area for submission to Coteblanche.

The thing you call Infinite Freep Rally’s for the
Troops is awesome to me. Your work in Colorado,
Fresno and all the other places like Bluesagewoman’s
report I read at the Canteen. KNOW this , it is
with great pride that I thank all of you.

Thank you for having the Canteen to come to . Thank
you for FR for my Dad and for me one day.

Bobby
Special Forces

Monday Mail Call
~by Victoria Delsoul~

Mail call means our troops are near, 
When they are happy, down or blue
They know how to write us here 
At the USO Canteen we're waiting for you.

It doesn't matter where you are 
It doesn't matter when 
Anytime you need someone to talk to, 
We are here to be your friend.

If you need someone to play a song, 
To post a graphic or to say I care 
If you need a shoulder to cry on, 
Know that the Canteen is always there.

Mail call is a window to your soul 
but if the weight gets to be too much 
Take a look at the Canteeners heart 
You'll find good friends with the right touch.

United we stand to our country defend, 
Through the good times and the bad 
You're never alone; the Canteen is your friend 
So until next mail call… oh, what a time we had.

[LadyX]

Mornin' GG!

I do believe that dress will get you a 'free pass'...:))) (at you!)

Mornin' SAMmo - (does it look to you and the other Bad Boyz as if GG has that dress on backwards? LOL)

[SassyMom]

Good Morning! Thank you for the beautiful pray and to that I add AMEN! Thank you also for the Texas sunrise. YIPPEE!!! Great song too. Have a super day!!!! (((HUG)))

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I see Mail Call Monday is popular in Alaska also! LOL

[JustAmy]

Since I missed most of the Canteen over the week-end, I don't know whether anyone supplied the link to

Fresno's Friday night rally.

We are still working on getting some veteran groups to join us. We get lots of positive response from the motorists but we would welcome more active participation.


Fresno Freepers Support our Military!

[SassyMom]

GG, you are dressed PERFECT for housecleaning. Yep, I'm putting on my cleaning dress too. Have a good day. I hope your little ones have a great first day of school. (((HUG)))

I'm wearing this cause I have lots of dusting to do. The wings help with that. *giggle*

[MeekOneGOP]

From last night (or early this morning) on yesterday's thread, your note......

0ver 600 posts?

I'll never be able to catch up.

And my reply (with a good URL THIS time, lol !):

Here, try some of this !

[LadyX]

Bet you're STILL snoring!

Time to wake and smell the coffee...:))
LOL

Loading Medley # 2 now.....

[SassyMom]

Thank you for the beautiful flowers, Tonkin. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!! (((HUG)))

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I just added Cpl Berger's new address in the Post Office.

[SassyMom]

Thanks, Linda for the info about "America The Beautiful". Here is a picture of Pikes Peak. I hope you don't mind, I printed out the words again. (((HUG)))

O beautiful for spacious skies, 
For amber waves of grain, 
For purple mountain majesties 
Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 
G-d shed His grace on thee, 
And crown thy good with brotherhood 
From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
and mercy more than life!
America! America!
G-d men thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law. 

O beautiful for patriot dream 
That sees beyond the years 
Thine alabaster cities gleam 
Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 
G-d shed His grace on Thee, 
And crown thy good with brotherhood 
From sea to shining sea! 

[SassyMom]

Thank you so much for sharing this information with us. (((HUG)))

[Valin]

1863 Confederate raider William Quantrill leads a massacre of 150 men and boys in Lawrence, Kansas


William Clarke Quantrill
(1837-1865)
Leader of perhaps the most savage fighting unit in the Civil War, William Quantrill developed a style of guerrilla warfare that terrorized civilians and soldiers alike. Quantrill was born in 1837 in Ohio, but little is known of his early life. It appears that after being a schoolteacher for several years, he travelled to Utah in 1858 with an army wagon train and there made his living as a gambler, using the alias of Charles Hart. After a year, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he was again a schoolteacher from 1859 to 1860. But his past and predisposition soon caught up with him and, wanted for murder and horse theft, Quantrill fled to Missouri in late 1860.

Quantrill entered the Civil War on the Confederate side with enthusiasm. By late 1861, he was the leader of Quantrill's Raiders, a small force of no more than a dozen men who harassed Union soldiers and sympathizers along the Kansas-Missouri border and often clashed with Jayhawkers, the pro-Union guerrilla bands that reversed Quantrill's tactics by staging raids from Kansas into Missouri. Union forces soon declared him an outlaw, and the Confederacy officially made him a captain. To his supporters in Missouri, he was a dashing, free-spirited hero.

The climax of Quantrill's guerilla career came on August 21, 1863, when he led a force of 450 raiders into Lawrence, Kansas, a stronghold of pro-Union support and the home of Senator James H. Lane, whose leading role in the struggle for free-soil in Kansas had made him a public enemy to pro-slavery forces in Missouri. Lane managed to escape, racing through a cornfield in his nightshirt, but Quantrill and his men killed 183 men and boys, dragging some from their homes to murder them in front of their families, and set the torch to much of the city.

The Lawrence Massacre led to swift retribution, as Union troops forced the residents of four Missouri border counties onto the open prairie while Jayhawkers looted and burned everything they left behind. Quantrill and his raiders took part in the Confederate retaliation for this atrocity, but when Union forces drove the Confederates back, Quantrill fled to Texas. His guerrilla band broke up into several smaller units, including one headed by his vicious lieutenant, "Bloody Bill" Anderson, known for wearing a necklace of Yankee scalps into battle. Quantrill himself was eventually killed on a raid into Kentucky in 1865.

Even after his death, Quantrill and his followers remained almost folk heroes to their supporters in Missouri, and something of this celebrity later rubbed off on several ex-Raiders -- the James brothers, Frank and Jesse, and the Younger brothers, Cole and Jim -- who went on in the late 1860's to apply Quantrill's hit-and-run tactics to bank and train robbery, building on his legacy of bloodshed a mythology of the Western outlaw that remains fixed in the popular imagination.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks for the link to the Friday Fresno FReep!
I'm sure I speak for All in the Canteen when I say
Fresno FReepers ROCK!
The active duty reading this thread can see that support
for them at Free Republic is both internal and external.
*HUG*

[bluesagewoman]

You are always sending me flowers. I am now returning the favor.

Keep Your Fork!

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her priest and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the priest was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the priest's reply. "This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The priest stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the priest.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, "Keep your fork." It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork .. the best is yet to come."

The priest's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of Heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what Heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the priest heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the priest told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there for them, even when you need them more.

For you never know when it may be their time to "Keep your fork." Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

And remember ............. "Keep Your Fork".

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

That prayer and that graphic are soooooo beautiful and so much appreciated! Thanks, SpookBrat, for all you do - and especially for these posts on this USO Canteen thread today.

Amen! to your prayer!

And here's another Texas Sunrise - with our President heading out for his early morning run, after which, he went out to clear some brush on his ranch over the weekend. Says good hard work helps him think, clears out the cobwebs.

I bet our heroes out there in our military who work every day to stay in shape and to defend our nation like to know about a President who is not only working hard for our country, and who is doing all he can to lead our forces to victory - but who is also not afraid of good old, hand tearing, sweat producing, dirty making, work!

(Heee hee - the reporters and reporterettes down in Texas just don't get it......they don't like getting up at the crack of dawn much less getting sweaty dirty doing tough man labor!!!! But, the President just smiles and says - I think you'll like it here. :-)

Some more of this weekend's pictures - I know some have seen them but just in case some did not:

They call this one "male bonding" - ha ha - don't you just know these guys LOVED hanging out with the President - working as hard as he was and joking together about things guys joke about.....LOL (our lurkers wouldn't know about that, would they?)

When my hubby gets dirty sweaty like that after hard work outside, he sorta gets this "aroma" if you know what I mean. We call it the "billy goat" scent. LOL.

Wonder if any of our mailcall writers know what I mean?

[MeekOneGOP]

(From yesterday's thread):

Study hard all,
(Except, Cote - she's baking, Radu - missed the class and Mr_Magoo - got a letter from Epstein's Mother)
there's a quiz first thing tomorrow morning.

Uh, the dog ate my paper !........Will that get me off?

Doh !

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Keep Your Fork"

That is a beautiful story!
Thank You
*HUG*