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

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

[Snow Bunny]

.

.

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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"

---

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

 

---

[tomkow6]

And a VERY GOOD MORNING to YOU, Tonk!

[antidisestablishment]

Thanks for the ping. The mail call is great.

Thank you to all our troops who are serving. My prayers are with you.

[Severa]

Good morning from VA Beach!

Finally getting over the cold from hell (with a little help from Sudafed and Flonase). It's a cold, rainy day here. Ugly as all get out.

Kids are doing fine. JJ is really enjoying school and Robbie is a little fireball as always. Hubby has damage control petty officer school this week and starting up next week is Sonar Supervisor school. Anything to get him off the boat makes him happy now. Since the boat's in the yards, sonar is usually one of the first departments grabbed up for the fun work like inspecting the ballast tanks or cleaning out the sonar sphere (both very dirty jobs).

Have a great day everyone!

[tomkow6]

TO THOSE OF US WITH KIDS, WITHOUT KIDS, WITH A LOVED ONE, OR NOT, WE CAN ALL RELATE...........

These are truisms that only kids can express. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too.
That's love."- Rebecca - age 8

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their
mouth."- Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." - Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
-Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
- Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."
-Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."- Bobby - age 5

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."- Nikka - age 6

"There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."- Jenny - age 4

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." -Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
-Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared
anymore."- Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."- Clare - Age 5

"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken." -Elaine - age 5

"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."- Chris - age 8

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."- Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."- Lauren - age 4

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her." - Bethany - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."- Karen - age 7

"Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."- Mark - age 6

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
-Jessica - age

[Johnny Gage]

News on another thread says they may have arrested the sniper this a.m.

[Mr_Magoo]

Air Power

DOUGLAS C-124C "GLOBEMASTER II"

The C-124 evolved from the earlier Douglas C-74. To facilitate cargo handling, the C-124, or "Old Shakey" as it was affectionately known, featured "clamshell" loading doors and hydraulic ramps in the nose and an elevator under the aft fuselage. It was capable of handling such bulky cargo as tanks, field guns, bull dozers, and trucks. It could also be converted into a transport capable of carrying 200 fully-equipped soldiers in its double-decked cabin or 127 litter patients and their attendants.

The first flight by a C-124 took place on Nov. 27, 1949 and deliveries of C-124As began in May 1950. The USAF bought 448 C-124s before production ended in 1955. These planes performed such missions as airlift support in the Far East and Southeast Asia, resupply missions to Antarctica, refugee evacuation in the Congo and mercy flights to Morocco, Chile and elsewhere throughout the world following floods and other natural disasters. Most C-124s were transferred to the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard by 1970 and all were released from active service in mid-1974.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 174 ft. 1 in.
Length: 130 ft.
Height: 48 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 216,000 lbs. max.
Armament: None
Engines: Four Pratt & Whitney R-4360s of 3,800 hp. ea.
Cost: $1,646,000

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 320 mph.
Cruising speed: 200 mph.
Range: 2,175 miles
Service Ceiling: 34,000 ft.

[Soaring Feather]

To the Canteen and Troops from the web
This is meant for all. Please take whatever you need for today, any day.

CHRISTIAN ALPHABET

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
eX alting God most high
Y es, there will be good times and yes, some will be bad, but..
Z ion waits in glory... where none are ever sad.

Unknown

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Morning Troops, families, veterans, and Canadian and Israeli allies (and everybody else). Thank you for taking such good care of the USA.

Today in Anchorage, Alaska:

Sunrise 8:59am
Sunset 6:27pm

Hi 50F
Lo 41F
Cloudy; HEAT WAVE!

Actual yesterday in Anchorage:

Hi 48F
Lo 41F

State Hi 61F Metlakatla
State Lo -10F Barrow

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House hummed along with this morning, twice because I love this song for our USO Canteen, and Prayer of Protection said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style, including our troops, our veterans, their families and our allies. Welcome to all who come to honor our troops, for whom this USO Canteen was created.

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you

The love of God enfold you

The power of God protect you

The presence of God watch over you

Wherever you are, God is,

And all is well.

Amen.

Wherever you are, God is, And all is well.

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Kathy!

[HiJinx]

Good Morning, Kathy!!!
I love that last line...
"Wherever you are, God is, And all is well."
That is so true, and I'm hoping our service men and women all over the world know that, too.

[Mr_Magoo]

Maybe both of these heroes, the wounded and the soldier at the desk had a chance to smile today or yesterday or laugh right out loud and for just a moment in time forget they were far from their loved ones, forget they were not watching a ballgame in their home or the comfort of their own bed. Maybe chuckling at the dolls and volcano and the tanks and Sam on Milk Carton,or Misty with the Beverly hillibillies,Magoo and Tomkow and Jinxie with their jokes, the 666 and one of us upside down......maybe that is their last belly laugh, maybe it is what makes the difference for them that moment in time.

It is not always easy to be entertaining here. Not easy, but nessessary. Right now there are tens of thousands of young Men and Women wearing BDU's for us. They made a committment that just might require their life. We owe it to them to be here for them. We owe it to them to make this place in cyberspace a welcome hideaway from the harsh realities of war.

And it is a war.

I look at it as this is another front in the War on Terror. A front that WE can fight on. A front that must never fail. We learned a hard lesson from VietNam. We must never allow our Brave Men and Women to be treated as they were during VietNam. They deserve better than that. They deserve our unending/unwavering loyality, respect, and admiration.

The jokes, the community here, the History lessons, even Tom's Burka play an improtant role here. When our Forces are sent out into battle, when they find themselves in a firefight, they reach down deep inside themselves for something - anything - that will give them the strength to go forward. Maybe the connection with home that they find here is that "something". Maybe it is a cartoon Girlz tucked inside a helmut. Maybe it is thoughts of Jen's hot tub. Whatever it is, as long as it gives then that something that drives them forward relentlessly to victory, then we have done our part.

I look forward to the day when the Canteen is not nessessary. I look forward the the day we welcome them Home with open arms and grateful hearts. Until that day, I will do what I can right here.

[blackie]

Support Our Troops !!

Mail Call Monday...Bump !!

The RATS Are In Disarray...Eradicate The Rodents !!

Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

Death To all Tyrant's !!

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Let's Roll !!

Molon Labe !!

[SAMWolf]

Well said Mr_Magoo! I salute you.

[SAMWolf]

Johnny - USAF
My belated condolances to you and your brothers on the loss of your father. I salute his service to our country and I salute you service. I know your father is proud of his sons.

James K.L. - USN
You guys only got to see the junkfood that Beamer and some of us (names withheld to protect the guilty) didn't scarf down before Linda and Bunny were able to get it out of the Kitchen on onto the thread. Beamer was sick for two days after that thread! I think that Beamer and the others ate at least a third of what had been planned to be on the Thread.

Charney - US Army
Thanks for writing. It seems the "Junk Food" thread was really popular with the troops. No being an old soldier myself I sure can understand why.

Joel - USN
Don't worry about being rushed Joel.
Those two sentences say a whole lot to us.
The fact that you took the time to write tells us how much the Canteen means to you. We appreciate hearing from you anytime.

Michael - US Army
Your right on target Michael, it doesn't get much better than Ladies in Tanks! I'm in heaven just thinking about it. Michael, I'm not going anywhere as long as the Canteen is here and you guys need us, I'll be here and so will the others.
Michael, there's a woman out there for you somewhere, they're just hard to find because the type of woman who will commit to a Serviceman is very, very special. Don't give up, and I'll bet she finds you instead of the other way around. Next time you see Z-TAR thank them for pointing you to us.

Mark - USMC
Rumor has it that if you get all the answers correct, You get a chance at a dip in Jen's Hottub and a hand made marguarita of your choice.
Thanks for writing.

Scully and the Pirates - USN
Navy Scroungers scrounging up poetry! What is the world coming to!
Hey guys, I'm trying to live down the "Chicken Dance" episode, can you please not bring that up. Thanks for keeping in touch.

P.S. I don't claim to fully understand the poem, it was never my strong point I tend to relate more to "There was a young girl from Nantucket,,," type stuff, but you did find a good one.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Good morning, Pretty Woman! Hahahah - a spell checker may not have caught that, Snow!! (I hate when that happens - LOL!)

Glad you got it fixed for next time. ; ) Have a great day!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

P.S. I neglected to mention that your piece was beautifully written, though - it really was.