A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-01-02

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues;  salute
and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new
word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.  I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands
of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet

MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga

BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette

MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid

BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP

MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian

BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68

MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

                     

Did You Ever Know
That You're My Hero?

I would like to take a moment and thank each and every person who has served our country in both war and in peace, as well as those who are serving to protect our freedom now.

Below are a few more of our FReeper family...those who have worn, or are now wearing, our country's uniform. Thank you for serving. You are appreciated so much.

Back: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband
poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son;
Front: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset);
WVNan's husband; ladtx Aunt Eva.

Ladtx' oldest son is a Captain (Weapons Systems Officer) in B-1's at Ellsworth AFB, SD. He's been in about 5-6 years now. His second son is a SP4 in a reserve Civil Affairs Battalion in Lubbock, Texas. He has been in the reserves for about 2-3 years. He hopes to go on active duty when he graduates from Lubbock Christian University.

Ladtx' aunt was a driver at the Pentagon during WWII. When she left the army at the end of the war as a sergeant she went to work as a civilian at the Pentagon and did that for about 30 years until she retired. She passed away about 1 1/2 years ago. She's missed.

WVNan's husband trained with the 456th Platoon, U.S. Marine Corps in 1953 at San Diego, CA. He served in Korea and Japan, and was later stationed at Cmp Lejeune. He served six years and gained the rank of Sergeant.

Mustard served in the U.S. Air Force from 1972 - 1976. He often brings us news stories of the military today when he posts.

Diver Dave's twin brother, Don served in the U.S. Marines from 1963 - 1967. His duty stations were USMCRD, San Diego; Camp Pendleton, CA; Okinawa; Vietnam; Camp Lejeune, NC.

Petuniasevan served in the U.S. Air Force 1984 - 1988 as an aircraft mechanic (B-52G Bombers) at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Poorman also served at Barksdale AFB 1984 - 1988 as a telecommunications technician with the 46th Comm. Group. They were married on 8-24-85 at Barksdale AFB, LA.

Alamo Girl's father, Loyd Gragg, retired as Master Sergeant (he was Army-Air Force, previously in the last Cavalry unit at Ft. Sam) - he is buried at Ft. Sam with my mother.

Alamo Girl's brother, Floyd Akers, Jr. retired from the Navy as CWO 3 - he is also buried at Ft. Sam.

FRJim is a picture of my surviving brother, Jim Gragg who retired from the Air National Guard with the rank of Major.

Alamo Girl also included a picture of her sister, Donna Schunk who passed away last year, October 1, 2001. She included it because "all my beloved friends on FR prayed for her and for me during her struggle against cancer." There were many threads, including this one: Alamo Girl's Sister..Services on October 6th


Thank You, America's and FR's Finest!

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

10-28-02 Salvation
10-29-02 Patriciaruth
10-30-02 Halloween Party
10-31-02 JohnHuangEssay

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[ST.LOUIE1]

ant and grasshopper

Now that's funny!!!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Take care, Sis! Hope to see you later. : )

[JustAmy]

I'll check in when I get home.
Goodnight All.

[Dubya]

Thanks for the ping. Keep up the good work.

[LadyX]

Sorry I wasn't around before to see your posts, Louie-Louie.

Every now and then I do actually cook!
Tonight it was salmon loaf, potatoes au gratin, and peas.

Back in the saddle for the evening ~ ~ ~

Where's Nan? Cooking chicken livers or sumpin'??

[WVNan]

Hey Lady. I've been around, but it seems like I'm about the only one. It's been really quiet around here.

[LadyX]

And then I vanished!
My sister is back at her home in Florida and wanted to catch up on everything.
Let's start a thread about 'Things Those over 60 Surely Remember' ~ ~ ~

Like: "I bet your mother was the first to try Duz !!
And then Vel - -

And the answer to what were they is: _______?

[LadyX]

And then sing the jingle!!

[GailA]

Closing the night with another graphic for our men and women in service to our country.

[LadyX]

During WWII, Gail, I actually purchased on Fridays war stamps for ten cents to place in my war bond book.
Most children then did so to support the effort!
The value, when filled, grew to $25 - a fortune in those days..:)))

[WVNan]

Laundry detergent

[WVNan]

I filled many a book of war stamps. I don't know what ever became of them. Probably cashed them in for college money.

[LadyX]

Wasn't it a thrill to have detergents after the Ivory Snow years?
We take so many convenience and improved things for granted.

Didn't have television, (generally speaking), or plastics until after WWII either!!
Note: I appeared on television in 1947, representing Florida in the National Spelling Bee - the first year it was televised!

[WVNan]

Ivory Snow? Try Grandma's lye soap. Ivory Snow was an improvement. LOL.

[WVNan]

BTW, how did you do in the spelling bee? Television was sure different back then eh?

[Humidston]

(What is this? -- The geriatric thread??? LOL!)

Hey, I remember war stamps too! Every week my brother and I greedily collected/earned every penny we could in order to buy our stamps on Friday.

He (bro) also collected foil and rolled it into a large ball - to be turned in for the war effort.

And that heavenly victory garden in our back yard!! Nothing better than a fresh-pulled carrot, complete with dirt, for the best eating.

[GailA]

I'll say it was..I read about the victory gardens, the rationing, etc. But can't imagine the scope of what you had to go through.

[Aquamarine]

[LadyX]

Laughing at your message in a bottle!
Was engrossed in doing odds and ends of laundry since no one was answering for a time!

Guess we are the Geriatrics at that, Humidston, and proud of it - we survived, didn't we?!

In the spelling bee, I had just turned 13 that month and placed 22nd, actually.
Unlike some, I hadn't trained for a year - just a month.
My first and last names had 13 letters - was 13 - missed in the 13th round on a 13-letter word!
Just wasn't my day..:)))

I used to go around my neighborhood in Coral Gables, Florida during WWII with Tommy and his little red wagon, and we collected scrap metal and newspapers - and yes, it was my job to cut off the ends of the tin cans and flatten them to turn in!

Gail, rationing was the pits - gasoline, butter, sugar, coffee, etc., and shoes - only 4 pairs per year per person.
Many mothers sacrificed some of theirs for the feet of growing children.
It was the height of pride to have the toes cut out of tennis shoes - holes in the soles of leather shoes self-patched, etc.

Patriotism was unlike anything seen since; even since 9/11.

Boy, would it have been nice to have e-mail - except security these days is shot.
Then, ALL mail going to or from military was heavily censored - anything sensitive blacked out by the hand of the censor.

[WVNan]

LOL. It wasn't Friday the 13th was it? Again, Lady, we remember the same things. Flattening the tin cans, collecting paper and magazines in the wagon hauled all over the neighborhood. Rationing of course. I still have my ration books left over from 45. Remember how our dads had to patch the innertubes in the tires? When did tires stop having inner tubes?