A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-15-02

Billie

[dutchess]

No losses today. What a great day you must have had. Thanks for keeping those fallen remembered.

[dutchess]

Aw...thanks for the crown LadyX. I'll wear it with pride!

[Pippin]

Good Morning everybody!

I'm slooooowly getting back into the "groove" here.

Thanks for your well wishes and responses. anyone got chicken soup?

BTW, I did go to the dinner on Saturday night but didn't stay long.

We all had a good time, especially Mom. Dansangel, the food at the Olive Garden was great!

Well, hope to be spending more time here or at the Hobbit Hole thread.

[dutchess]

"all these young white DNC kids were shouting, "RNC, RNC, Where is Your Diversity?"

What's amazing is the diversity of GW's cabinet...but that doesn't count...the minorities are "sell outs"... What the left doesn't allow for is diversity in thought! Thanks for your thoughts...and I think prosecutors are the good guys too!

[Pippin]

Good Morning, dutchess!

Happy Day! another dog-lover!<p. I don't have pets but my mom and dad do and my sisters and brother do. My mom and dad's dog is a black lab, about 6 years old and just the sweetest dog you could find.

[Billie]

What bright cheery flowers! Loved reading about you yesterday, Molly! It's nice to see you here - the ATRW is such a great group!

[Mustard]

Lt. Cmdr. Scott Speicher

The Jacksonville family of the only American still listed as missing in action from the Persian Gulf War believes they finally might be able to determine whether Navy Lt. Cmdr. Scott Speicher is dead or alive.

A meeting with an unidentified Iraqi official who family representatives believe is in a position to know Speicher's fate is a good possibility, said Cindy Laquidara, a Jacksonville lawyer representing the family.

"Given their history of actually meeting people on humanitarian issues, I would think it's pretty high," Laquidara said Thursday. She would not identify the official.

Laquidara said she has been working on a meeting for some time but only recently sent a letter requesting it. The time and participants are subject to negotiation, she said.

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and administration officials are pressing hard for military action against Iraq, but Laquidara said the timing of the letter is coincidental.

"It was time to have the personal plea," she said.

President Bush cited Speicher's case in his speech last week to the United Nations to argue for action against Iraq.

Speicher's F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was shot down Jan. 17, 1991, the opening night of the war. Initial reports were that it exploded in the air.

Speicher, a native of Jacksonville, was listed as missing in action while the war continued. After the prisoners held in Iraq returned, Speicher's status was changed on May 22, 1991, to killed in action, body not recovered.

In 1995, the wreckage of Speicher's plane was found. A team from the International Committee for the Red Cross some months later found evidence that Speicher "likely ejected from the stricken aircraft prior to the crash," according to an unclassified intelligence summary.

In 1999 an Iraqi defector claimed to have found Speicher alive in the desert and driven him to Baghdad. He has passed a lie-detector test, Laquidara said.

Based on a growing body of evidence that Speicher survived the crash, and spurred by the aviator's family and members of Congress, the Navy changed his status back to MIA in January 2001.

Speicher's wife, who has since remarried, has been instrumental in pushing for an accounting for him, Laquidara said. She has declined all interview requests since his disappearance.

JoAnne Shirley of Dalton, who heads the board of the National League of Families of POW/MIA, said the family needs to be careful they are not used as pawns in a larger game of diplomacy by the Iraqis.

"I would proceed cautiously, but I think I would do it," said Shirley, whose brother has been missing in Vietnam for nearly 30 years. "I think it will impress on Iraq the importance of the issue."

© 2002 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution"

[dutchess]

Billie....THANKS for the poison oak memories! OUCH! I still have some scars on my arms LOL!

I guess I forgot that this thread was just getting up and started when I found it. WOW...look how far it's come and how many friends we have made since then. It's so nice to have a happy place to visit knowing you'll leave with a smile no matter how bad a day you've had. Thanks for being the inspiration!

[Billie]

Morning, Maggie! I am so, so happy to see you here the last couple of days. That crown is the prettiest thing! WOW!

[Pippin]

Speaking of ATRW, I better get over there or they'll all think I've dropped off the face of the earth! LOL!!

[ValerieUSA]

Good Tuesday Morning Fine FReepers

[lonestar]

Weinie and I send our congrats to dutchess. The dutchess is one of those people, who like us, consider it a compliment to say, "She's gone to the dogs!"

[Billie]

Morning, Free. What a wonderful post that was!

I loved the report that kristinn wrote about freeping clinton's fundraiser!

[Billie]

Hi, dutchess! So glad you're staying home today, and not because of poison oak!

How's giz doing this morning? Still pining for his little buddy?

[ValerieUSA]

FABULOUS bio - it is so fun to read and to learn about a superfine FReeper!
I really appreciate Dutchess's wonderful FReeper Petathon idea during the FReepathon. Everyone had such a blast posting pictures of their pets as Dutchess's contribution tally added up.
Thank you dutchess for your generosity and spirit of devotion to both your FReeper and animal friends.

[Billie]

Morning, Pip. Not back to 100% yet, are you? I bet you'll get lots of chicken soup delivered right here today. Hope you have a big freezer! :)

[Pippin]

Thanks Billie!

[Billie]

Mustard, I've missed seeing your posts. God Bless Lt. Cmdr. Scott Speicher - what an ordeal his family must have been going through all these years, holding out hope he may still be alive and returned to them at any time. Thank you for posting this - I just knew when I saw the opening graphic that Mustard was here. Good to see you.

[kayak]

I'm looking and looking for a finer FReeper than dutchess and just can't find one ...... :-)

dutchess ~~~ I really enjoyed the stories about your parents and their friends ..... way to go!

[Billie]

Thanks, dutchess. I was thinking that you had been here on the opening day and I looked back to confirm it before stating that - it must have been the second week, because I didn't see your name the first two or three days - didn't look further than that, but knew it was very soon after our 'debut'.

We really appreciate you for being such a happy cheerleader for us!