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

[ladtx]

Thank you WVNan. We all have felt it a privilege to have served and continue to serve. Now if I can just find that picture of my dad in his uniform so it can be posted here also. But we're in the process of moving and it has been packed away somewhere, so it will be a while before we locate it again, I was hoping to get it posted with my sons and aunt.

[Diver Dave]

1969 CPT Roger D. Partington -- HMH-361, Age 28, Sparta, Illinois
1969 1LT Stanley A. Brown -- 116 AHC, Age 23, Albany, New York
1969 WO1 Charles F. Danielson Jr. -- 116 AHC, Age 22, Verona, Pennsylvania

[Billie]

You're entitled - I'm sure you were out trick or treating until the wee hours...

How did you know? ;)

[The Thin Man]

LOL. Say Good Night, Gracie. :^)

Yeah, it's been a long day. Good night!

Btw, you must be tired yourself. You know...mistaking me for this Gracie person. :-)

[Billie]

Good morning, a better number today with only three losses - only the bad news is that they were all in the same year.

Thank you, and thank you for the photos and information of your two sons and your aunt. When you find your father's photo, we'll include it.

[Billie]

We look forward to your report. Nan, if you would like for it to be a whole feature, we could do it Monday if you get it to me this weekend. Any photos to share? It would make a wonderful FR Finest Feature if you can wait until then to share with us?

[Billie]

Morning, kay. I wanted to thank you for your great compliment the other day on the Halloween Party thread. I was disappointed that it was so difficult to get to FR that day and frustrated and just quit trying after a while. I read most of the thread yesterday.

[Aeronaut]

OOhhh. This could spoil my lunch! (NOT!)

[ladtx]

It may be a while before I can get my dad's picture to you. Our move is being dragged out over more than a year, so we won't be able to locate the picture probably until next summer sometime.

[Billie]

Morning, jw! I always love it when we get a new group of FR's Finest Military. This makes 11 groups now, and I'm working on a way to show all of them every day without a such a drain on download time for the thread. Will probably feature 4, 4, and 3 each week with thumbnail links to the rest of them on each of the 3 threads.

[The Thin Man]

I was mistaken. I guess it's still morning.

You could've quietly corrected me. Instead you post that "good night" graphic and publicly humiliate me.

Thank you very much! :-)

[Billie]

Thank you very much! :-)

My pleasure, T Man. :)

[Mixer]

Good Morning everyone :-) Hope everyone has a great weekend....TGIF

Billie....you are allowed to drop the ball....ONCE ;-)

MinuteGal....Since I will more then likely not be on the thread this Sunday I would like to wish you an early "FReeper Anniversary". You have been here 4 years this coming Sunday and that should be celebrated.

[WVNan]

You may not have read my report late last night so I will do a rerun for today's friends.

Eternal Vigilence e-mailed me that he had tickets for President Bush's appearanve in Charleston WV, so I told him to save me two. I figured I could get someone to go with me (hubby had to work). I asked around and got no takers, so I thought of ohioWfan who had often expressed a desire to see him. So, I freep mailed her and asked her if she would like to come and see the President with me and spend the night. She had to rearrange her schecule, but finally said she would love to come. In our arranging things I contacted Eternal Vig again and he said I could have more tickets if I wanted them, so when I talked to ohioW on the phone I asked if her son Eric would like to come with her. He jumped at the chance.

They arrived here yesterday at 1:30 and after a quick change we were on our way to Charleston. We arrived there about 3:00. Now to find Eternal Vigilence who had our tickets. We got in line and I called him on my cell phone. We connected up by phone and he came out to the line and gave us our tickets. So far so good. Everything is working like clockwork. The doors to the Civic Center opened at 4:00 and the lines moved pretty fast considering they searched everyone.

We found a seat in the middle on the front row balcony but soon realized that the media lights and umbrellas would block our view. We saw people standing down on the floor in front of the stage, so we decided to go down and stand through the whole thing (ouch my feet). We found a good spot almost on the rail right behind a lady wearing a giant pumpkin suit (I'm not kidding). Eventually ohioWfan had "ooched" her way up against the rail with her camera. We hope she got some good shots. We should know by tonight or tomorrow after she gets them developed.

Dubya came in from the side opposite from where we were and gave his standard speech. We all know them by heart now, but hearing it in person is special. We were happy to be close enough to get pictures, but when he finished he came off the stage ON OUR END! OhioW was ready with her camera. We were all reaching our hands out trying to be the one he would shake. He picked up a baby and held it up like he does so often. Then he came our way (OH LORD, HE'S GOING TO COME CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH!). OhioWfan, being on the rail leaned over and said, "I pray every day for you and Laura." He reached out and hugged her and KISSED her n the cheek and said, "Thank you, that's the kindest thing you can do for us." While he was hugging her I was able to put my hand on top of his and squeeze it (well, it's better than not touching him). Then he reached up and shook hands with Eric. When he moved on, ohioWfan turned (in a trance) to Eric and he said (incredulously), "I just shook hands with my Commander in Chief." We met Jay Wolfe too and I was sorry that Dubya did'nt do more for him. The GOP hasn't supported Jay like they should have. I believe that if they had he could have put Rocky out of the Senate.

We let Eric drive and on the way home we stopped for a good meal and good conversation. Ladies I should tell you that Eric is a young man that any mother would be button-busting proud. He's a wonderful level-headed man (he says he's a man now because he went through his military training).

When we got back to my house we immediately reported in at the "Day in the Life" and everyone there was pea-green with envy. We giggled and freeped until 1:30 before turning in.

This morning I took them to breakfast at Melinda's and sent them off to Ohio. I can't remember when I've had so much fun. It was so great and I love ohioWfan. Of course you know that Freepers always love each other because we are like-minded people. I fell in love with Eric too. Well, there you have it. Our great adventure.

[WVNan]

Pictures later when ohio gets them developed at 1-hour Wal-Mart and gets time to post them.

[blackie]

Hi Finest One...

GWB Is The Man !!

Death To all Muslim Extremist's !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

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

Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!

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

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Let's Roll !!

Molon Labe !!

[WVNan]

Moving? Same town or another state? Just curious.

[WVNan]

opps too late. BTW, thank you Billie, for posting Jack's picture and bio on the vets section. I really do appreciate it.

[Billie]

Billie....you are allowed to drop the ball....ONCE ;-)

Just ONCE?!!! : (

Boy, I just looked at the calendar earlier this morning - what a busy month November is for FReeper anniversaries!!!

[ladtx]

Moving? Same town or another state? Just curious.

We're moving from a small east Texas town to the DFW area. It's being dragged out because our youngest is still going to college there so he's living in our old house till he graduates next summer. I moved here 15 months ago to take a new job then my wife moved here about 3 months ago. We won't be able to sell the old house till my son finishes up at school next summer. So you can see, it's been a real circus (all we need is the big tent and few more clowns! LOL) and will continue to be one till late next summer.