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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[SevenofNine]

Good morning Canteen members

Well some sad news out of Israel ANOTHER BOMB Went off on bus according to BBC wire this morning so far kill 3 people story still developing

So expect IDF smackdown in near future perhaps very soon

[redhead]

YAAAAAAAA-HOOOOOO!!! Mail Call! Yippee! I LOVE this day. I love hearing from the troops and reading about their love for the Canteen. If any of us ever had any doubts about the effect of the virtual Canteen, they should all be put to rest by the simple reading of these letters.

For each of you who wrote to the Canteen this week, just know that we are praying for your victory and for your safe return. Keep stopping by the Canteen, and give us Canteeners even MORE reason to hang out here every day. Every one of us here has chosen the Canteen as our online home for a very good reason: YOU.

[HiJinx]

Johnny, USAF - You don't have to be here every day, Johnny, that's what we've volunteered to do for you! You and your brothers...yes, and your Dad, too...placed your lives on the line to protect Freedom and Liberty for Americans everywhere. There is no higher calling, and for that we salute you!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi rockfish, thanks for the reminder that we must never forget what our troops went through in the past and to support our troops 100% now. Support and honor is what we do ever single day here at the troops Canteen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you ever faithful Aeronaut and Otto for your every day flyover of protection for the USO Canteen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Wow, Chaplain, is it ever nice to see you this Monday Mail Call day. It is so great to see our troops write about their feelings for their Canteen. We are here 24/7 to honor and support them. And having you as our Chaplain is such a wonderful addition. Thank you.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

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.

Johnny
USAF

Johnny, I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you lost your dad. I lost mine too, back in 1996 - and one thing that was a tremendous comfort to me was the realization that I wasn't alone. Knowing there were people around me who had gone through the same thing helped a lot.

I'll bet your dad was very proud of you, and I'll bet he knew what good hands our country was in on the day he passed. (A belated thank you, Johnny's dad, for your service.)

You take care of yourself and stay safe.

Duchess

P.S. This is my father; he had a Purple Heart, too:

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi larry, good to see ya today. Any wildlife lately?

[HiJinx]

Joel, USNavy - It's our pleasure to be here for you, Joel! Please know that we will always be here for you. We're here now, every day. And we'll be here when you come home. You're never far from our thoughts and prayers, brother!

Wonder what makes SAMWolf think we're going to forget that Oktoberfest Saturday in Texas, hmmm?

[Radix]

That is a lot of links and information. I think that I might need a backhoe just to get through them all!

Thanks!

[tomkow6]

Luke and Obi-Wan are in a Chinese restaurant having a meal. Skillfully using his chopsticks, Obi-Wan deftly dishes himself a large portion of noodles into his bowl, then tops it off with some chicken and cashew nuts. All this is done with consummate ease you'd expect from a Jedi Master. Anyway, poor old Luke is having a nightmare, using his chopsticks in both hands, dropping his food all over the table and eventually himself. Obi-Wan looks at Luke disapprovingly and says, "Use the forks, Luke."

[HiJinx]

Mark, USMC - Thank you, Mark, for taking a moment to drop us a line. Congrats on getting all the trivia questions right...you've got your priorities right, too...kisses are better than medals any time!!
(I just can't seem to convince the gurlz of that, though!!)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Re: 69 - Thanks A/M - I appreciate it! (A big DUH on my part.)

[Radix]

Hello SB

I was looking for a quote last night and I stumbled on to an interesting quote that I was not looking for.

I do not know if many people are familiar with the movie Casablanca (it is a classic). There were a lot of great quotes in that movie.


"Rick Blaine: Don't you sometimes wonder if it's worth all this? I mean what you're fighting for.
Victor Laszlo: You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die."


More here at this site

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/dvd/B000068GS3/quotes-trivia/ref%3Dpm%5Fdp%5Fln%5Fd%5F4/103-4265652-0095041

[Aeronaut]

Hi Kathy.

[Johnny Gage]

The heroes are the ones writing to us each week.
Charney - US Army
Michael - US Army

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Johnny - USAF

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Mark - USMC

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James K.L. - USN
Joel - USN
Scully and the Pirates - USN

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God Protect our Troops!

LET'S ROLL!!!!

Time Out: 13:43
KMG-365

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

SWAT! LOL

Let me try that other one again, with a little editing this time:

An Amish boy and his father were visiting a nearby mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny silver walls that moved apart and back together again by themselves.

The lad asked, "What is this, father?"

The father (having never seen an elevator) responded, "I have no idea what it is."

While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed, an old lady walked up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady walked between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched as small circles lit up above the walls.

The walls opened up again and a beautiful twenty-four-year-old woman stepped out.

The father looked at his son anxiously and said, "Go get your mother."

[Johnny Gage]

I hate it when the "preview" doesn't show a formatting mistake.. *sigh*

Happy Monday Everyone.. (if there is such a thing)

[tomkow6]

Many years ago a friend of mine called Joe worked in the coal mines. He would go to work early in the morning, go down the mine to the coal face and do his eight hour stint, then come back to the surface to get ready to come home. He followed this daily routine faithfully for years on end, down the mine in the morning and up at the end of his shift. Down then up, down then up. One day whilst he was at the coal face he swung his pick ax and the point went deep into a rock. He eventually managed to remove the pick ax from the rock, and as he did so he was engulfed in a deluge of water. He was absolutely drenched by the water, and his work mates remarked that he looked about 10 years younger since the water had covered him. They all tried to get soaked, and those that managed did indeed look 10 years younger. He, and those of his friends who had managed to get covered by the water, were thankful but they couldn't stop wondering why they had only been made to look 10 years younger. Why hadn't they been made to look 20 or 25 years younger than they really were?
It must be obvious that it was only a miner miracle