A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-14-02

dansangel, Billie

[dansangel]

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

                     

Molly Pitcher Freeper since February 9, 1999

I visited Molly Pitcher's profile page before beginning this tribute to her. It was there that I discovered that there may actually have been an historical figure by the same name. Curious, I did a search on the Internet and came up with the following information from "The Story of Molly Pitcher" on the Wainright Army Website:

The Story of Molly Pitcher

An artillery wife, Mary Ludwig Hays (better known as Molly Pitcher) shared the rigors of Valley Forge with her husband, John Hays. Her actions during the battle of Monmouth (28 June 1778) became legendary. That day at Monmouth was as hot as Valley Forge was cold. Someone had to cool the hot guns and bathe parched throats with water.

Across that bullet-swept ground, a striped skirt fluttered. Mary Ludwig Hays was earning her nickname "Molly Pitcher" by bringing pitcher after pitcher of cool spring water to the exhausted and thirsty men. She also tended to the wounded and once, heaving a crippled continental soldier up on her strong young back, carried him out of reach of hard-charging Britishers. On her next trip with water she found her ex-artilleryman husband back with the guns again, replacing a casualty. While she watched, Hays fell Wounded. The piece, its crew now too depleted to serve it, was about to be withdrawn. Without hesitation, Molly stepped forward and took the rammer staff from her fallen husband's hands. For the second time on an American battlefield, a woman manned a gun. (The first was Margaret Corbin during the defense of Fort Washington in 1776). Resolutely, she stayed at her post in the face of heavy enemy fire, ably acting as a matross (gunner).

For her heroic role, General Washington himself issued her a warrant as a noncommissioned officer. Thereafter, she was widely hailed as "Sergeant Molly". A flagstaff and cannon stand at her gravesite at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. A sculpture on the battle monument commemorates her courageous deed.

Now, fast-forward through history about 220 years. Close your eyes and picture that day in 1998 when a large number of boxes of evidence were collected by Ken Starr's staff and delivered to the Capitol. This was the first time our very own Molly Pitcher lurked on and eventually posted to Free Republic. As Molly herself describes that first experience with FR, "It was addiction, er, love at first sight! Free Republic became my 'port in the storm' in the waning Clinton years."

Molly Pitcher follows in the footsteps of her father who "battled Dems and liberals all of his life." His legacy of political activism began during the 1930's in corrupt Louisiana. His battle continued on the Gulf Coast of Texas and culminated in becoming a Republican Precinct Chairman in suburban Chicago.

Molly Pitcher's earliest Free Republic activism involved making phone calls and writing letters during the Fall 1998 House Judiciary Committee hearings. Later, in July 1999, she joined the DC FReepers at the White House. "It may have been 100 degrees," she recalls, "but it was FUN!"

Molly Pitcher describes herself as being strongly pro-Second Amendment and pro-life. She favors a small government, low taxes and a mighty national defense. This more than qualifies her as being "conservative."

There are other important interests that Molly Pitcher has that "dominate and animate" her life. Among those, she lists her family, her faith, classical music, art, history, books and last, but in no way the least...baseball!

Molly and a friend engaged in spirited conversation

Perhaps you are one of the fortunate FReepers that has had the privilege of meeting Molly Pitcher. She says that it is always "a joy to meet other dedicated FReepers." She has accomplished just that by attending last Winter's CPAC and last Fall's Free Republic Cruise. She has also met fellow FReepers when traveling through their hometowns.

At times, she has met other FReepers as they have passed through her hometown, as well. The modern-day Molly Pitcher calls Akron, OH her home. This is not all that far from the historical Molly Pitcher's home in Pennsylvania.

Molly Pitcher, the FReeper embodies the spirit of Molly Pitcher, the soldier. Each is/was dedicated to her country and to maintaining the freedoms and principals upon which it stands.

In closing, Molly Pitcher wanted to express her gratitude to Free Republic founder, Jim Robinson. She is thankful for the "friends, inspiration, intellectual stimulation and sanity" that Free Republic has given her. I think it is safe to say that all of us here at Free Republic are thankful for dedicated members such as Molly Pitcher.

Please join me in giving another deserving FReeper a warm welcome to FR's Finest...

Today that Finest is
Molly Pitcher!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

10-12, 13-02 "A Few Of FR's Finest" Weekend Thread

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

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

[Mixer]

I noticed that I replied to myself. I was going to correct it but you caught it already :-)

I love all types of music but my favorite is late 60s / early 70s rock.

I just purchased one of those old Console Turntable with radio pieces. You know the ones that look like a piece of furniture. I will post a picture when I have one. Anyway the old records sound great on it.

I saw some good classic rock shows this year. Jethro Tull, Robert Plant (my fav of all time) and The Who.

How about you?

[JustAmy]

Wait for me!!! I'll catch up soon.
Did you eat all of the breakfast goodies again?

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, Pippin.
Sorry to hear about you having a bug but am happy you are feeling better! Take care.

[lodwick]

Thanks to your clever nick: we're all smarter now. I had no idea either. ;-)

[WVNan]

This is why I love FR so much. You learn something new every day. Religion is what I'm educated in yet I didn't know about St. Barbara. Here's a picture of her with the cannon.

[Aquamarine]

Better World

Click on the pic

[ST.LOUIE1]

Oooh, I do pray you will be better shortly.
Lemon and honey.

Thank you, Ms.Nanbear. : )

[JustAmy]

Thank you again for remembering your fallen comrades. God Bless and Comfort their Families.
God Bless you for posting their names every day; they will not be forgotten.
God Bless our Military, Past and Present!
God Bless America!

[WVNan]

Oh, I have one of those too Mixer. It's about the only thing you can find these days to play records on. Did we ever think that records would become obsolete in our lifetime? We much have at least a thousand of them. I love the early rock too. Some of my favorite songs came from that era. Diamonds & Rust, Sweet Baby James, Desperado, City of New Orleans, etc. Of course, my guys have always been into Bluegrass, but they used a lot of those old songs and did them Bluegrass style. I Know You Rider comes to mind, as well as those others I mentioned.

[Billie]

Good afternoon, d'sangel! I'm sorry to be so late getting here today. Your tribute to Molly is just beautiful! What a wonderful presentation to a terrific FReeper!

Molly, thank you for your contributions to FR and just for being the wonderful person that you are.

I hope I can catch up reading all the posts today - am WAAAAAAAAY behind as I see there are already close to 200 posts. (shouldn't be so popular!) :)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Very interesting indeed! Thank you.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Wait for me!!! I'll catch up soon.
Did you eat all of the breakfast goodies again?

Yep! LOL

[ladyinred]

Speaking of eating all of the breakfast goodies. Guess what Chads did! Yesterday, My Mom had some peach cobbler. I wasn't feeling well, so Chads went to her house without me for some, which was fine. However, she sent me some home with him. While I was lying on the couch in the family room, sick, Chads ate all of it! This time there will be no picture of a smidgeon left either, he cleaned out the pan entirely! I got zilch!!!!!

[lodwick]

You are SO right about what can be learned on FR - there's lots of great posters who bring good stuff to us on a daily basis. Growing up Protestant, we were not into any other Saints other than those in the Bible and even then had no special recognition for them, believing that everyone who dies in Christ becomes a saint.

[jtill]

Molly, congratulationson being today's Finest! At ATRW, we all know that you are the finest everyday!

[lodwick]

Durn that Chads.

[Molly Pitcher]

Aquamarine - Lovely flowers and music. There sure are a lot of skilled & talented people around here!

Billie - It's so much fun to know more about each other. You have put your artistic ability to wonderful use on this forum.

lodwick - LOL! Well, it was either Betsy Ross or Molly, and maybe "Betsy" was taken, but I think I liked Molly's....er...energy with that cannon better! Sure do love American history, and the inspiring stories of our great country.

[Molly Pitcher]

Oh jtill! Thank you!

How are you? We've got friends out in SF right now, and am looking forward to hearing about their trip when they get back in a few days.

Neither had ever been there before.

[lodwick]

Back to work. ;-(

[WVNan]

Hello Billie! I'm being lazy today and enjoying Molly's day here at the Finest. Hope you are having a good day too.