A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day 08-13-02

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute
and support our military and our leaders; tell a few jokes; learn a new
word; write poetry; pray for those in need; and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands
of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett

MIDDLE: fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17

BOTTOM: Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau

TOP: ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,

dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony

BOTTOM: rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx

MIDDLE: The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law

BOTTOM: deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog

MIDDLE: Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son

BOTTOM: JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

Texas fact:

Santa Anna, the commanding general in Mexico and brother-in-law to General Cos, was furious at him for surrendering San Antonio and the Alamo.
He gathered his 6,019 man army and vowed to eradicate the Americans from Texas.

The majority of the 150 men who fled to the Alamo with the approach of Santa Anna were hunters and trappers of the ilk of James Bowie and Davy Crockett and were referred to as "Texians".
They were from almost every American state, but none were Texans, except nine ethnic Mexicans who had joined the Revolution.
Upon arriving in San Antonio, Santa Anna's first act was to hoist upon the tallest building a blood red flag, meaning that no quarter was to be given.
There is no doubt that the defenders of the Alamo could have escaped had they chosen to do so, but they knew when they did not, they had chosen to die.
Thirty-two men who had gathered at Gonzales rode hard to the Alamo, and during Santa Anna's ten day bombardment of the walls, fought their way inside to die with the defenders.

The cannon breached the walls on March 5th, and in the early morning of March 6th, 1836, the Mexican army of over 4,000 men attacked the Alamo defended by less than two hundred volunteers.
The first assault never reached the walls.
The frontiersmen, who had been raised with a rifle on their hands, did not miss often, and the speed with which they reloaded was something the veteran Mexican troops had never seen.

After fighting off wave after wave, the defenders of the Alamo each died with rings of Mexican soldiers around them.
By nine o'clock in the morning the Alamo had fallen with a cost to the Mexican army of over 1600 soldiers dead and over 500 wounded.
James Bowie was slain on his deathbed suffering from pneumonia.
No white defender survived, and there was mass mutilation of the bodies after the battle.
The defenders bodies were stacked and burned. By official records, 182 corpses were in the pyre.
There was one white woman in the Alamo at the time of the attack, and she was a wife of one of the defenders.
By the express orders of Santa Anna she was allowed to live.

The most lasting damage to Santa Anna and the Mexican Army was the spawning of the legend of the diablos tejanos or Devil Texans...for they would see them again.

"Lone Star" - T.F. Fehrenbach [para]

Texas fact:

After the fall of the Alamo, General Sam Houston took charge of the Texas Army.
In order to gain time and troops from the surrounding countryside, Houston ordered a general retreat.
His orders were carried to the fort at Goliad where General Fannin had 500 men who had been denied by Fannin to help defend the Alamo.
Fannin tarried too long, and he and his force were captured on the way and sent back to Goliad.
A few days later three hundred ninety were marched up the road and executed.
The officers, including Fannin, were told of the fate of their men, then executed.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.