USO Canteen FReeper Style FReeper FRiday Salutes George W.Bush ....November 1,2002

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

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.

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

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The USO Canteen Honors FReepers
who have served, or are now serving their country.

.TODAY'S CANTEEN HONOREE

George W. Bush

You may have a loved one who has served in the past.
We at the FReeper USO Canteen would like to honor each and every one.

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George Walker Bush
President
Commander in Chief

Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice anything, but military people see it right away. Watch: When President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to salute his back as he walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous eight years, though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers aren't required to turn and face the President as they salute. They are not required to salute his back. They are only required to salute. They can remain face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did during Bill Clinton's entire Presidency. Our soldiers were forced to obey Clinton's orders, but they were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that they did not. Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to bite his lower lip and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!

The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight. Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11. His executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President Bush visited him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief never initiates a salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to his President - a Soldiers' President.

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George Walker Bush is George and Barbara Bush's first child. George W., shown here in 1947, was born on July 6, 1946, as his father was finishing his studies at Yale University. George Bush grew up in Midland Texas.

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During the 1950s, fathers had relatively little to do with raising their children. Barbara Bush (right) became the authority figure in the Bush household, taking care of everything from emergency hospital trips to entertaining kids during neighborhood parties at the house.

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In 1961, George W. left the freewheeling Texas lifestyle for puritanical New England, where he followed in his father's footsteps by attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. George W. told during one interview that his father had a "huge influence on my life." That influence continued as the younger Bush followed the pre-determined path set by his father and attended Yale University.

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Former enlisted Air Guardsman George W. Bush (left) has his second lieutenant bars pinned on by his father, George H.W. Bush during a September 1968 commissioning ceremony.

George W. Bush applied to join the Texas Air National Guard on May 27, 1968, less than two weeks before he graduated from Yale University. The country was at war in Vietnam, and at that time, just months after the bloody Tet Offensive, an estimated 100,000 Americans were on waiting lists to join the Guard units across the country. Bush was sworn in on the day he applied. He served as an F-102 pilot for the Texas Air National Guard 1st Lt. George W. Bush flew F-102 Delta Dagger fighter jets from 1970 to 1973 with the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. Anyone who flies in a high performance fighter is putting his A** on the line for country.

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Bush fulfilled two years of active duty and completed pilot training in June 1970. During that time and in the two years that followed, Bush flew the F-102, an interceptor jet equipped with heat-seeking missiles that could shoot down enemy planes. His commanding officers and peers regarded Bush as a competent pilot and enthusiastic Guard member. In March 1970, the Texas Air National Guard issued a press release trumpeting his performance: "Lt. Bush recently became the first Houston pilot to be trained by the 147th [Fighter Group] and to solo in the F-102... Lt. Bush said his father was just as excited and enthusiastic about his solo flight as he was."

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In Bush's evaluation for the period May 1, 1971 through April 30, 1972, then-Colonel Bobby Hodges, his commanding officer, stated, "I have personally observed his participation, and without exception, his performance has been noteworthy." He received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Three months after meeting on a date arranged by friends, George W. and Laura Welch (fourth and fifth from left ) married on Nov. 5, 1977. Laura Bush: "In a lot of ways I guess I felt like I'd known him all my life without really having known him that well."

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His worked in the oil and gas business in Midland in 1975, and worked in theenergy industry until 1986. In 1977, George W. Bush startled the political scene when he won the congressional primary against established candidate Jim Reese. After working on his father's successful 1988 presidential campaign, he assembled the group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.

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In 1981, George W. and Laura Bush added to the extended Bush clan when they had twin girls. They were named Barbara and Jenna, after their grandmothers. Over the years, the family retreat on the coast in Kennebunkport, Maine, became a place for the elder Bush to escape from the political landscape of Washington and a place of support for his son, George W., and his family.

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Cowboy George down on the Texas Ranch

Our cowboy and his girl , beautiful Laura

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In January 1995, George W. celebrated his inauguration as governor of Texas with Laura in a parade down Congress Avenue in Austin. In an historic re-election victory, he became the first Texas Governor to be elected to consecutive four-year terms on November 3, 1998, winning 68.6 percent of the vote.

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In 2001 George W. Bush became President of the United States of America.
And Commander in Chief of our wonderful armed forces.

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It’s a family thing, and we are glad.

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A chew toy away from the Presidency…….

Spot , Barney their cat India

President Bush’s Favorites: Color Blue Ice cream Pralines and Cream Pastimes Reading,
jogging, fishing, watching baseball games.

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September 11,2001

Terrorists strike our homeland MURDERING Americans as well as people from many other countries.

A man NOT a draft dodger, a MAN not a wimp strikes back in no uncertain terms.

A MAN to be respected by the entire world. Our Commander In Chief, President Bush.

President George W. Bush gives an emotional speech at the Pentagon
October 11, 2001

"Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. " "Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war? We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network" "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. " "This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom. "

"The civilized world is rallying to America's side. They understand that if this terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And you know what -- we're not going to allow it." All quotes by President George W. Bush

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His quiet confidence let our enemies know that they made a grave miscalculation.
Now, this same man who practiced his faith through a tough election,
who steeled his convictions even more in a drawn-out Florida battle, and who
never once gave in to the temptation to get in the gutter with his foes,
this same man now lifted the weight of the world and
the responsibility of a generation and put it on his modest shoulders
as though it were another unpleasant duty.

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[Snow Bunny]

Prayers for the family and loved ones of Sgt. Ryan D. Foraker.

[Radix]

TY SB

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Kayak, so good to see you.Thank you for your post and those wonderful photos of President Bush.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks Seven, for bringing us foreign news every day. Go IDF!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi my friend, thank you for the flyover today. I am looking forward to your flying all of us tomorrow on our Saturday Liberty, thank you.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sasebo City Fire Department Recognizes Sailor For Rescue

Story Number: NNS021031-03
Release Date: 10/31/2002 8:46:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman James Kimber, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Hull Technician 3rd Class Michael Regan of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 DET WESTPAC ALFA received a letter of commendation Oct. 23 from the Sasebo City Central Fire Department, for rescuing a Japanese fireman from a motorcycle accident last month.

After the ceremony, Regan explained how he assisted the injured fireman.

“I was taking [Hull Technician Fireman Michael Toon] to base that morning to complete his check in,” said the 22-year-old native of Danville, Calif. “We ran into a lot of traffic and began wondering what was happening. Once we got closer, we saw a van with a huge dent in the side and a man lying in a pool of blood. There was a second man elevating his legs.”

Regan and Toon immediately stopped their truck to offer assistance.

“Petty Officer Regan took control of the situation right away,” said Toon, who had only been in Japan for a mere two days. “First, he told me to wait in the car so he could see what was happening. As soon as he realized the seriousness of the situation, he told me to get out of the car and direct traffic away from the victim.”

“It was just automatic…we were just doing what needed to get done,” said Toon.

Lucky for the victim, Regan had recently requalified in first aid treatment just weeks before.

“It was drizzling outside and the victim was pale white, so I felt the victim may be getting cold. I then placed a blanket from a nearby vegetable stand on him and began treating him for shock. Then, I assessed the wounds and tried to stop the bleeding,” said Regan.

“ACU-5 is very proud of Petty Officer Regan’s actions,” said Lt. Daniel VanTrump, ACU-5 DET WESTPAC ALFA officer-in-charge. “He acted selflessly in providing medical treatment, taking control of the scene and rendering assistance.”

“He is one of the Navy’s rising stars,” continued VanTrump. “He’s a hard working, talented individual on his way for a long, illustrious Naval career.”

“Honestly, I don’t see why this is such a big deal,” said Regan, “It’s something I wish someone would do for me if it was me in that situation. I think everyone in this room can say that. We [Americans] also have to realize that we’re guests in this country. We need to help each other.”

For more information on Commander, Fleet Activites Sasebo, Japan, visit their Web site at www.cfas.navy.mil.

[Snow Bunny]

I LOVE this MOJO, thank you so much!

And also the post too with your upside down IH. hahahhaahaha

[LaDivaLoca]

Western wear? Will this do?

Hmmm....maybe a little too much or too little. Back to the drawing board. I'll be back.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Linda, thank you for the photo of our President at Aberdeen.

[Jen]

Sorry, I had no luck finding a pilot. Maybe one of the troops can fly the Girlz tonight. Aren't there a couple pilots over by the fireplace?

Gang - I gotta take off. I'm going to my sister's house tonight and shopping with my Mom, sister, and daughter tomorrow. It's a Girlz slumber party and shopping excursion. WooHoo!

[Snow Bunny]

Our military are wonderful and I am so very proud of each one of them. Thank you for your post.

[Snow Bunny]

Great outfit! The color blue is wonderful too.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless you good, Jen. Have a super time with your slumber party and shopping excursion! Have a safe trip!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Mud, so good to see you.Thank you and I agree, Bush is a wonderful Commander in Chief.

[Snow Bunny]

This is good, thank you for "Shan't Git Fooled Again!!".

[Snow Bunny]

Hi AP, good to see you. Thank you for your post about Ted Maher.

[Otta B Sleepin]

Who came up with this great Bushbot logo? I noticed a lot of folks have it on their profile pages. Would I need to get permission from someone to do that?

[Kathy in Alaska]

See #250! Jinxie, "how hard can it be?" Ok, Girlz, unless you can find a pilot among our troops, we fly this baby ourselves. Duchess, round up the Driver's Manual. Radu, you are in charge of the floor mats. Snow Bunny, you are in charge of our itinerary. Redhead, can you help Snow with the itinerary (and you have to watch her, bunnies like to bounce around)? Ms Feather, will you be in charge of entertainment? LaDiva, do you have a particular job in mind? Duchess, what job is Belle suited for? If I missed anybody, keep in mind that I haven't reached 100 yet, chime in on a job you would be willing to take on..Woohoo!!

[kayak]

rintense created it for us. Help yourself!

[Kathy in Alaska]

"Statesman of the Century Award"

Thanks for the Statesman, Jinxie.