A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-27-02

Billie

[Billie]

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: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet

MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga

BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette

MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid

BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP

MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian

BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68

MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

                     

Say Hello to Flyer

FReeper since 10-07-99

Today's Finest FReeper calls Houston, Texas, his home, but he calls his favorite place somewhere between Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. Flyer is a member of the Houston Area Texans (HAT) Chapter of the FReeRepublic Network, where he serves as the Chapter postmaster and photographer. He also belongs to the FRN Second Amendment Task Force and Leadership Council forums.

Flyer's screen name has nothing to do with aviation....but you'll have to read on to see why he chose it. :)

I chose as his background a couple of his own photographs; be sure and check out his gallery, linked below, for more of his excellent work! You can also see many of his photographs on our previous daily threads. Flyer became a "regular" at FR's Finest when we profiled another Houston FReeper and shooting range buddy, humblegunner.

To learn more about this Lone Star FReeper, read on.......

In His Own Words....

This is dedicated to the memory of Tim Hennessy

I am a native of Houston, Texas, a child of Texans. My namesake, Capt. James Chessher, fought in several of the battles to liberate Texas.

We left Houston when I was about one year old and Dad's work took us around southeast Texas for the next 15 years. Some of the towns I called home are Bay City, Lufkin, Baytown and League City. We were in Louisiana for a little bit, too, and I guess that explains the hint of coonass in me. The family settled back in Houston in 1970.

I started my adult life as a liberal mind full of mush. I missed being old enough to vote for George McGovern by two weeks. I made up for it with votes for Jimmy Carter in '76 and '80. In 1984 I backed Ronald Reagan. . . and never looked back.

The closest I have come to a career is 11 years I spent in animal care - I worked for an animal shelter, one of Houston's best veterinary clinics and an upscale boarding kennel. My co-workers called me "the dog whisperer". I touched the lives of over 10,000 dogs and knew 4 - 500 of them very well. One particular dog, a Golden Retriever, boarded with me quite frequently. We were quite good buddies. His name was. . . Flyer.

Currently I work in the family delivery business. It is something of a niche business - we deliver luggage that the airlines lose. It's not a bad business, but I'm on call 24/7 because folks want their bags NOW!

In my early days as a FReeper I published a weekly web-zine called The PlanetTimes. It included original work from fellow FReeper tangofox, and re-prints of work by Jeff Head and joanie~f. I was in negotiations with Lazamataz as a contributor just before the publication folded. (Thanks to my other writers - Bill Twist, Britney Jackson, Jonathan P. Bernick, Jim Davies, Michael Round, Michael Ewing, Tom White, Tim Hennessy and Roger Chessher. It was a great time)

---

I met my first fellow FReepers face to face this January at the first full meeting of the Houston Chapter. The past 8 months have been some of the best times as I have worked with fellow Texans to turn back the left and restore the Liberty protected by our Constitution. We are not all work though. We have a heck of a lot of fun together. We have our regular monthly meetings, but we also get together for dinner and a cocktail, a trip to the gun range or casual afternoons of conversation as we tend the grill. If you are in the Houston area and this sounds like fun, just give us a holler. We would love to have you aboard!

When I'm not here at FreeRepublic, or our Chapter forum, or out on the streets waving the flag at one of our FReeps, I do have other interests. I enjoy photography. I'm not technically proficient, I just shoot what I like and take enough pictures so that a few are bound to be something I like. I have a gallery of some of my favorites (that needs updating) here.

Photo Gallery

I don't have a garden this year, but I hope to next year. A vegetable garden, that is. I love the miracle of placing a seed in the ground and with a little tending, watching it come forth with food for me. In lieu of a garden, I put in a pond this year. Now I want a bigger pond. Watch it, ponding is addictive. ~Flyer

I love it when our FReeper of the Day sends a photo of his childhood days. This sweet photograph was taken in 1958 in the Museum at the San Jacinto Monument........

Flyer and his sister, 1958

Thank you, Flyer, and enjoy the spotlight! You're One of FR's Finest!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

09-23-02 Hall of Fame
09-24-02 n.y.muggs
09-25-02 Jeff Head
09-26-02 RedWing9

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Billie]

I took this photo near Sonora, Texas, on I-10, where the interstate cut through this mountain. The flag, flying so high above us, was just overwhelmingly beautiful!

[ladtx]

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on todays date. God bless them all.

1LT Porrazzo -- B/1/9 CAV 1 CAV
1LT Husrst -- A/9 AVN 9 INF
CW2 Morris -- 1 CAV
MAJ Pittard -- 38 ARRS DET 13
CW2 Smith -- A/9 AVN 9 INF
WO1 Bradley -- 237 MED DET
CW2 Hill -- 237 MED DET
CPT Jacobs -- 3 BDE 101 ABN
CPT Langman -- 3 BDE 101 ABN
WO1 Karnehm -- 187 AHC
CPT Kintaro -- 187 AHC
CPT Rogers -- C/3/17 CAV
1LT Rueppel -- 1 AVN BDE

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[ladtx]

Good morning Billie.
It's always heart-warming to see the flag out in the middle of nowhere. There are patriots everywhere.

[Billie]

Good Morning, dear FRiends. Our Finest FReeper this morning will be late arriving on the thread, but please come by and say hello to him.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Billie]

Good morning, lad. It's getting worse - I hope the numbers don't continue to rise - eleven yesterday, thirteen today. The battles must have been extremely bloody on these days.

Thank you for posting the link this morning, too. It's good to have that with the memorial to your helicopter pilot buddies.

[Billie]

It was, lad - when we got close to that flag, it just sent chills - the photograph couldn't do justice. It was flying there so proudly, and so majestic and alone in it's spot so high on that mountain.

[Billie]

Hi, Aeronaut - let me go get your coffee. :) (Of course, blackie is supposed to make it this morning!) It's time someone relieves Meek and the Mayor. :)

[Carry_Okie]

Morning! And another beautiful job! Our congrats to flyer for another great day.

[Mudboy Slim]

We're blessed with a lot of fine FReepers from Texas, ain't we?!

Good to know ya, Flyer...Congratulations!!

FReegards...MUD

[Aeronaut]

Aaaaaahh coffee! Thanks miz Billie.

[ValerieUSA]

[Billie]

Hey, CO - how nice to see you this morning! How are those two beautiful little girls of yours?

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Billie, Flyer.

Congratulations, Flyer. Welcome to FR's Finest...Hall of Fame. It's been a real pleasure to meet and chat with you here on FReeRepublic. Thanks for all your contributions to FR's Finest. From your discriptions, Flyer sounds and looks like a GREAT FRiend.

Now, kindly step forward to center stage and take a bow.

[Billie]

Yep! Lotta good FReepers from Texas - will be doin' another one next week, I hope.

Been a while since I checked th NUMBER of FReepers from Texas - but know it's a bunch!

Now, I'm a bit prejudiced of course, because I know there are a lotta good FReepers from all over the country!

[lodwick]

Houston TX sunrise

[Billie]

The least I can do for you when you make a point of flying over each day and dipping your wings to salute today's Finest. :)

[Mudboy Slim]

"I'm a bit prejudiced of course"

"Prejudice" ain't really the right word, IMHO...let's call it "justifiably proud."

FReegards...MUD

[Billie]

Good morning, sunshine. :)

[Mudboy Slim]

"Houston TX sunrise"

BEE-YOO-tee-full!!

Thanks and good mornin'...MUD