A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-05-02

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: g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE: fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM: Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP: ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM: rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE: The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM: deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP: spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE: FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM: usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; beginning this week we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

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

GROUP 2A: TOP: Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE: 4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM: Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP: mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE: Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM: gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP: porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE: RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM: USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE: Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM: JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM: Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

11-04-02 Surprise

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

Great Story
The first day of school, our professor introduced himself and challenged
us
to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around
when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find
wrinkled,
little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire
being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can
I
give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course
you
may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a
young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married,
have a
couple of kids..." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have
motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always
dreamed
of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class, we walked to the student union building and shared a
chocolate
milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three
months we
would leave, class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized
listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience
with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily
made
friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the
attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it
up.

At the end of the semester, we invited Rose to speak at our football
banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and
stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech,
she
dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little
embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry.
I'm
so jittery. I gave up beer for lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll
never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing
because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only
four
secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success."

"You have to laugh and find humor every day."

"You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have
so
many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you
are
nineteen years old, lie in bed for one full year, and don't do one
productive thing, you will turn twenty years old."
"If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do
anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't
take
any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the
opportunity in change."

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we
did,
but rather for things, we did not do. The only people who fear death are
those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She
challenged
each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all
those
years ago.

One week after graduation, Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two
thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the
wonderful
woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can
possibly be.

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