USO Canteen FReeper Style ....High Flight .... October 30,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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The USO Canteen FReeper Style
Delivering a Touch of Home

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A Touch of Home

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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.

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.

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Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

John McCrae 

High Flight

High Flight was composed by
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr.,
an American serving with the
Royal Canadian Air Force.

He was born in Shanghai, China
in 1922, the son of missionary
parents, Reverend and Mrs. John
Gillespie Magee; his father was an
American and his mother was
originally a British citizen.

He came to the U.S. in 1939
and earned a scholarship to Yale,
but in September 1940 he enlisted
in the RCAF and was graduated as
a pilot. He was sent to England for
combat duty in July 1941.

In August or September 1941,
Pilot Officer Magee composed
High Flight

He then sent a copy to his parents.
Several months later, on
December 11, 1941 his Spitfire
collided with another plane over
England and Magee, only 19 years
of age, crashed to his death.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc

His remains are buried in the
churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire.

The poem, High Flight, has over
the years become a mantra to pilots.
It is a tribute to, and in memory of
pilots of all generations.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high unsurpassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Hey! You're here!! (You know, Tom hears "voices". Just a heads up.)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Oops...MoJo went to bed. 'Night, MoJo. Sweet dreams. (You keep hittin' 'em out of the park with your news tidbits - you could do that for a living if you wanted to!)

[BeachBelle]

I was writing you a thank you and it disappeared!
(maybe we should ask Snow Bunny if she paid the canteen bill this month) : )

Like I was saying... thank you!! And I'd love to see the museum with you. There's one at Eglin AFB maybe you'd like to see with me?!

Loved the WWII story and picture!

[BeachBelle]

Duchess is helping me with my jammies for the graveyard shift here. I was beginning to think I'd be the Canteen Flasher!

PS: I so admire all the dedication and hard work you all do here for the troops. Thanks for letting me be a small part.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night sweet child of mine. ARGHHHHHHH......I've been trying to get past #208 for 30 minutes. Talk about the last nerve. Sleep well and God bless you good for your stupendous support of the troops. And thanks for the music lesson. **HUGS**

[Soaring Feather]

Thank you.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Oh, I know Snow paid the bill (LOL - she will laugh when she reads that); FR is acting weird lately...I think there's some sort of attack going on.

You bet I'd like to go out to Eglin!

I'm glad you liked that story! Ghost Soldiers is a fantastic book with a great ending; reading about what our POWs endured at the hands of the Japanese left me in awe of those men - I can't believe ANY of them survived it. One of the men who planned and led the raid to liberate the camp at Cabanatuan is still living here in my area.

I'm sure everyone would like to hear about your dad's service, if you ever feel like sharing. (No pressure, of course.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

But tom, you and your kitty-katz are so cute when you're clean. Oops, you are so BAD when you're clean. LOL! BATH BATH BATH BATH

[Kathy in Alaska]

For Ted Maher and his family!

[Soaring Feather]

You made it Bunny!

Have some roses!

[zip]

Typical Missouri weather didn't dampen tonight's Sneak FReep

Hey Blue, I've seen you out there in snow so a little rain was easy, huh? Good report and the good news is - clear and warmer Saturday. See you then.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you Mr_Magoo for this possible work around. It didn't work so far, but I'm keeping it for future reference. I've been pulling my hair out all day and I'm down to the last few. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Get it together FR!!

[BeachBelle]

It has been a frustrating day trying to log on here!

You can thank (or not?) Duchess for inviting me.

What is really wonderful, is seeing the dedication and support for our troops! Thanks for the welcome, Cote

[Soaring Feather]

Bunny get the tank out, this is a job for the women! We gotta get the bugs out of the system here, this slow down time ain't good on our nerves!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi Colleen. I've been kicked out of FR so many times today I have no clue what got posted or not. So, Good Day to you this fine day. It is always nice to see you. And thanks for the close up of the grave stone of Pilot Officer Magee.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Here's your night shift attire, but if you ride on tonight's transportation, you're gonna need a coat. (Kathy won't let you out of the Canteen without it on...she doesn't want anybody catching cold.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Maybe I'll zoom with you until things settle down and we can take our drive in the Fire Truck.

[southerngrit]

Okay, I give up (for tonight, anyway). I've been bumped off line so many times I'm ready to toss the 'puter in the pool!

Good night, sleep tight, pleasant dreams to everyone, but most especially to our troops!

Until tomorrow...

[BeachBelle]

"You bet I'd like to go out to Eglin!"

Good then- we have a date! : )
Maybe you can loan me "Ghost Soldiers" then?

I feel like I'm on an episode of "Trading Spaces".. you know when the designer leaves at night and gives them
"HOMEWORK"? You have given moi quite a bit with the html stuff. I'll get to work on that right away.

PS: Thanks again xoxoxoxo

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duchess is learning, Belle. I don't like "sick" in the first place, and like "relapse because of flaunting the rules" even less. LOL!!