USO Canteen FReeper Style Monday Mail Call ....... October 21,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ The Troops and Snow Bunny ~

[Snow Bunny]

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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.

The USO Canteen FReeper Style
Delivering a Touch of 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, friends and family of those serving now and 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.

Please know...
Each one of you that posts back to these letters from our
troops, your message will be sent to them in a reply email at
the end of today. I do this just in case they may not have a
chance to read the entire thread to get their replies. If there
are graphics the # of the post is sent so they can enjoy your
entire answer. Thank you so much. You are all terrific !

Dear Snow Bunny

I have brothers that are serving just like me. Our Dad passed away on Sept. 12, 2001. We were all already serving so we had a lot happening with 9-11 and our Dad almost the same day. I wish the last full day of my Dad's life would not have been a day filled with such anger and tears.

My Dad was a Vietnam Vet, he had two Purple Hearts.

Hey Dad isn't this a great place,this Canteen.

Thank you Canteeners for giving us the Canteen cottage to come to when we can. I may not be there everyday, but when I can it is the highlight of my day and it stays with me too.

Johnny
USAF

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Hi Snow Bunny and all Canteeners

It has been several months since I have written back. Lots of things going on but I do visit the Canteen often.

Your Rodeo was awesome and I was ready in case of any mishaps with all the bronco's. I got a stomach ache after eating all the junk food but it was well worth it. All that visual food felt so good you had to know what it means to so many of us. And the way it was presented was one advertisers might think about. ROTFLMAO

Thank you Linda and Bunny for a great feast and the rest of you Canteeners that join in with such enthusiasm everyday.
YOU ARE ALL THE BEST !

Thanks for always thinking of us and the best support I have ever seen.

James K.L.
Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class

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Hi Bunny and the Canteeners

I feel like the Canteen is my home so I would like to welcome Daughter of An IwoJima Vet, she is the one known as Cap'n Duchess.

And a big thank you for the junk food and that crazy day of feeding my face. I needed that but I guess that is why you did it huh Linda and Bunny and you Canteeners. Thanks Larry Johnson I could have used a good workout after my all day eating frenzy. LOL

Thank you so much everyone.

Charney
USArmy

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Chicken Dance ? ROTFLMAO

CAN-Tastic !

I am rushed but had to let you know you all ROCK !
Thank you, this is great how you are there for us!

Joel
USNavy

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Dear Snow Bunny

Beautiful babes in tanks. (tank Babes)

Now what guy does not dream of that! Bentfeather, a tank never looked so good. I would call you elegance tank style. Thank you for the poems you write and for your beauty too.

Hey Sam, Magoo, Jinxie (as Bunny calls you), MM7, Larry, Johnny, Burka Man, Yatch Man, Zip, Aomagrat, AFCATMret and the Radix. Thanks for being at the Canteen for us. Your jokes, writings (lump in the throat time), joking with each other and your support sure makes me happy.

Bluesagewoman (your support of us deserves an award I think,
the Mojo keep that pen in hand and never stop letting those juices flow Mojo,
Kathy with the sparkle in her eye I can tell stuff like that from your posts,
Jen (I love you), Radu are you a cutie or what with all those cats. If you ever get another one for your family I offer this name for he/she Ophelia. I have always liked that name, but the girls I meet are mostly NO. No I don't have time to meet a soldier, no I don't want a long distance hunny, no I don't want to sit at home on Saturday night. LOL So guess what I sit at the Canteen and am surrounded by the most beautiful girls in all of America and the best Patriots too.

Thank you for the cottage with the big chairs they are very comfortable.

The Z-Tar guys told me about the Canteen and it made a big difference. I laugh more now and don't get so down or worried about 'things'.

Thank you !

Michael
USARMY

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Dear Snow Bunny and Jen and Canteeners

I WON I WON I got all the answers for Jen's Trivia questions. Can I have a kiss Jen. Don't worry about the NHH stuff I am all male head to toe. LOL

Thanks for the fun and being there.

Mark
USMC

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Ahoy "USS Canteen"

We have a gift for the Canteen Snow Bunny. It was Marty that, well you know Marty and his crush on Souris. He was looking one day for a Mouse house to tell her he would love to have lunch with her one day. LOL

He came across this poem and we all liked it a lot so here it is. Not sure who wrote it, Marty said it said a name but had a question mark after it. Now I ask ya, what kind of person has a question mark after their name. What do you think Sam and the Bad Boys ? What do we do with men that have a question mark about what they are. ROTFL

I guess they weren't sure who wrote it but who cares its great. Kind of like who cares really what all of our names are as long as we are fighting to keep you safe. Pirates like that word fighting ya know. And a lass in every port, our sea dog Yatch Man knows about that. LOL Anyway its the outcome of the poem like the outcome of this war. Winners all aye that we are as long as we have the "USS Canteen" and the cottage to stop in for grog and wet our whistle for these sturdy pirates.

But first a special kiss on the cheek from Marty to Souis and one from each of us for all of the lovelies of the "USS Canteen".

Dare we mention the Chicken Dance. ROTFLMAO

You all are ALL so out there and we can never thank you enough for how you make us feel. BUT THANK YOU!

Tell Cote, Bentfeather, James Wilson, Poet and the Poetry Branch Joe bragged about being a member to some old girlfriend in an email and she is very impressed. He tried to get away with the roses are red bit but that might have been too much for her. That Joe he just has to rush into things. LOL

I'll sign off here so you can read our gift.

Thanks again

Al,Marty, Joe and Scully the scrounger
USNAVY

Please include the poem below in our email Bunny thanks  

In Placentia Bay there sat on the shore
A young girl who mourned for her love who's no more
The pride of his manhood is the prize of the sea
And the seagulls still follow on freedom

She reached out her hand to an old man passed by
And she lifted her head with a tear in her eye
Said, "Sit and I'll tell you a tale of some woe
While the seagulls still follow on freedom"

I come from Toronto, upon the mainland
And there's many's a thing here that I don't understand
Like why are these young men still slaves to the sea
When the seagulls still follow on freedom

He said to this young maid, as held her small hand
"The sea and its fury are part of this land
And them who can't take it had better not stay
With the seagulls who follow on freedom"

"Those men who quote figures and count the cause lost
They see on the high seas and the lives it has cost
They don't see the life as we know it to be
Like the seagulls who follow on freedom"

"So they cheat us and they rob us and continue to say
That our only salvation is leaving the bay
But I'll soon be ninety and there's one thing I know
That the seagulls still follow on freedom"

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MAIL CALL

There's a scramble in the barracks
When our mail call time arrives,
And we hit the stair at double-time,
And our interest has revived.

We assemble in a circle
While some sergeant reads the list
Of addresses on the envelopes
Lest our letters should be missed.

There are many disappointments
When our letters do not come,
And we hit our bunks again
Feeling blue and looking glum.

But the man who gets a letter
Wears a smile so bright and gay,
Like the glimmer of the summer sun
When the clouds have passed away.

So you true and loyal civilians,
If you want to do your part,
Why not write a card or letter
To delight some soldier's heart!

Sir Lancelot

 

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Afternoon, IG. Mail Call Monday is sure a great day. Hearing from our troops that they feel like they can find a piece of home at the Canteen is so wonderful. They work so hard at keeping the United State free.

[Kathy in Alaska]

This is a terrific graphic and states exactly what the Canteen stands for: HONORING ALL WHO SERVED AND THOSE WHO SERVE NOW! Thanks.

[Jen]

Special Dedication
To our Military Members and Veterans
for Protecting and Defending our Country
and Especially for Johnny (USAF), James K.L. (US Navy), Charney (US Army), Joel (US Navy), Michael (US Army), Mark (USMC), Al, Marty, Joe and Scully (US Navy)

"Hero" by Mariah Carey

MIDI version

MP3 version


And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive
When you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth - that a hero lies in you!

[Soaring Feather]

October 21, 1781
The Battle of Ball's Bluff
   
Walter A. Eames


He was a brave man.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you for stopping by the Canteen to help honor our troops. Their letters tell us they hear your thanks and your prayers.

[Johnny Gage]

Thank you!

One ringy dingy pingy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Johnny, USAF – Hi Johnny, please thank your brothers for me for their service to our country. And a special thanks and welcome home to your Dad for his service in Vietnam. You are a very special family and we are proud of you all. I’ll bet that your Dad is keeping a real close eye on you and your brothers from his spot in heaven as you visit your Canteen whenever you are able. We are here for you 24/7. Thank you for your service to our country and for the job you are doing protecting our freedoms.

[Johnny Gage]

SAM: Thank you for the wonderful pictures. Some of them are very touching, others fun to see (jumping off a ship in the middle of the ocean) still others, showing what our troops are exposed to, and the work they do.

Linda: Thank you for posting the Civil War letters. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be in that war. These letters give us a personal view of the struggles these brave soldiers went through.

[tomkow6]

Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Wash., Oct. 17, 2002 — The ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) arrives at her new homeport at the Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Wash., following a voyage from her previous base at Kings Bay, Ga. Strategic deterrence has been the sole mission of the fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) since its inception in 1960. The SSBN provides the nation's most survivable and enduring nuclear strike capability. The Ohio-class submarine, of which Pennsylvania is one, replaced aging SSBNs built in the 1960s and is far more capable. U.S. Navy photo by Brian Nokell. [021017-N-6497N-002] Oct. 17, 2002

At sea with USS Saipan, Oct. 19, 2002 — Landing Craft Utility One Six Five Four returns to the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2) after a simulated assault off the coast of North Carolina. The exercise included Marines from Marine Air Ground Task Force Two Five (MAGTF-25) and was part of Type Commander Amphibious Training (TCAT). TCAT is a week-long training permiting the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) the opportunity to work together as a cohesive unit to fine tune their basic ship-handling skills, well-deck and flight-deck operations, and other integral shipboard activities and drills. In addition, TCAT allows the sailors aboard these ships the opportunity to work closely with their Marine counterparts. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Robert M Schalk. [021019-N-5027S-003] Oct. 19, 2002

At sea with USS Saipan, Oct. 20, 2002 — Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) board a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter during beach-landing training during Type Commander Amphibious Training (TCAT) exercises off the coast of North Carolina. Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary forces — integrated air, land, and sea combined arms units — are ideally suited to meet the challenges of the 21st century security environment. They are powerful instruments of national policy and provide the National Command Authority with a multitude of diplomatic and military options to support U.S. foreign policy initiatives. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kyle T. Voigt. [021020-N-9109V-002] Oct. 20, 2002

[tomkow6]

But I have a FULL crew with me, at ALL TIMES, ALWAYS, to help me fly the helochopter!We PROMISE to fly careful? My "kitty-katz" wanna go for a ride.

PLEASE! PLEASE, can we fly it? Huh, whatca' say? Huh? Huh? Huh?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

That's my favorite picture, too, cote! (I'm not far from Whidbey.) Thanks you guys, for the fantastic photos.

Funny blonde joke Tom. : )

[HiJinx]

Al,Marty, Joe and Scully the Scrounger, USNAVY, The Pirates!
Guys, you've really outdone yourselves this time! Who would have thought that Pirates could be poetic, eh? But what's this about question marks? Some guy doesn't know his own name? That's not like any of the guys I hang out with. We all know exactly who we are and why we're here...it's for you, and for your brothers and sisters in uniform around the world! Y'all take care of yourselves, we're waiting here for your safe return.

Here's a guy with a real identity problem...
Jim Carrey as the Riddler.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

The Duchess is pretty special to all of us...it's just a way we have, welcoming people into the Canteen like they're part of one big happy family! A little on the weird side, maybe, but family nonetheless!!!

Thanks, Jinxie - I think! Who are you callin' "weird"? ROTFL

Hugs,
Duchess