A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!....11-28 thru 12-01-02

Billie and Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

As we come together with family and friends and bow our heads in thanksgiving, let us remember our servicemen and women who are far from home during the holidays. In remembering them, let us also give thanks for the sacrifices of their families who will have an empty chair at their Thanksgiving table this year. Let us be ever mindful of our freedoms and the price that has been paid, and continues to be paid, in order to preserve them.

This Thanksgiving Prayer, by Kathryn Kay, is thought to be the poem which inspired President John F. Kennedy's most memorable words:

"Ask not what your country can do for you,
ask what you can do for your country."

Thanksgiving Prayer

God, ev'ry year about this time,
according to routine,
I've bowed my head in the accepted way
and offered thanks, like some well synchronized machine
that prayed because it was the time to pray.
But, God, this year is different, this year I seem to feel
America's Thanksgiving is my own,
that in my nation's gratitude I have a part that's real,
a part that until now I've never known.
And, God, this year a deep humility has filled my heart,
a newborn pride rings true thruout my soul
because I do belong, because I have and am a part,
a tiny part of one tremendous whole.

I think I know the feeling of those first Americans
who said, "We must give thanks for this, our land."
I cherish now the rights that are each woman's, ev'ry man's,
the rights I've just begun to understand.
This year my heart has learned
what all Thanksgiving Days are for,
true thankfulness at last I realize,
but, God, I'm sorry that it took the tragedy of war
in other lands to open up my eyes.
Again I bow my head but this time deep within me stirs
a mighty prayer, part of one vast design,
"God, help me make America as proud that I am hers—
as I am proud, and grateful she is mine!"

"Thanksgiving Prayer" was published
in Kay's book "If the Shoe Fits" in early November, 1941.

In 1789, the father of our country, George Washington,
issued the first official Thanksgiving Day proclamation.

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God --- to obey His will --- to be grateful for His benefits --- and humbly to implore His protection and favour: And whereas both Houses have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY of PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States, to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favourable interpositions of His Providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; --- for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed; --- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; --- for the civil and religious Liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; --- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, That we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; --- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington"

Thanksgiving is a time for counting blessings,
for drawing near to family and friends,
and for sharing the bounty of God's gifts.

Our cup runneth over; for this,
Lord, we give thanks this day.

During this Thanksgiving weekend, if you have a moment, please sit down at our table and share what you are especially thankful for, what Thanksgiving means to you, or a special holiday story, recipe or memory. There is always plenty of room at our holiday table for our Finest FRiends.

Turkey In The Straw
Over The River And Through The Woods
Colors Of The Wind
Old Home Place
Amazing Grace
Give Thanks




Stop by and say hello when you can.
Our regular "A Few of FR's Finest" thread will return on Monday.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

11-25-02 The Guild
11-26-02 wirestripper
11-27-02 Carlo3b



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

A reminder from Billie...

[dansangel]

We had a wonderful day....and I trust you did, as well!

Another piece of.....what??? OMG, NO!!! LOL!

We tried your crock-pot stuffing....thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!! We needed every inch of oven space and that worked out so well!

{{{{{{{{{{{{Carlo3b}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Have a Happy Day-After!!

[FreeTheHostages]

Good morning everyone! Anyone else having trouble moving?

[carlo3b]

Just in case your stuck with a fridge full of Leftovers! You might get a few tips. Have a great day.

[carlo3b]

I am so happy to have been of service. I'm always around on our favorite site..Think of me as your peck and Call Guy!!! LOL ...BTW ..Got any Leftovers??

[Budge]

Carlo3b, while I didn't do the cooking, I did have a friend fry a turkey for me. My first time to ever eat fried turkey. It was WONDERFUL! I'm looking forward to trying some of your leftover recipes!

[carlo3b]

Those Fried Buggers are really moist, I'll have to do one for Christmas. Feel free to try any of the recipes on the leftover thread, some of them are Tummy Busters....LOL

[FreeTheHostages]

After Thanksgiving, how can you even budge?

Sorry, I had to . . . .

[MistyCA]

Thank you! yes, there are some leftovers but I don't expect them to last long...they never do. Thanksgiving leftovers are the only one's we manage to always eat! :) Thanks for the link!

[Budge]

After Thanksgiving, how can you even budge?

LOL! I didn't "budge" much, let me tell you. After waddeling to a comfy chair, I proceeded to "watch" a football game on TV with my eyes closed. :) Most satisfying!

[lodwick]

Thank you for the upbeat thoughts and truths. May they reach those that are needing them today - people like me.

[lodwick]

[BigWaveBetty]

Hope y'all had a fabulous Thanksgiving! We did. I'm blessed to have many things to be thankful for, one of which is wonderful friends like you!

Thanks again for the terrific thread on 11/25 for The guild. It was so much fun and a fitting tribute to all the great people who make it a great place to be.

And thanks for FR's Finest!

God bless you all.

[ladtx]

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on NOV 29. God bless them all.

1967 WO1 Gerald L. Latini (USAR) -- A/123 AVN 23 INF, Age 24, Columbus, Georgia
1967 WO1 Daniel S. Steele (USAR) -- A/123 AVN 23 IN, Age 19, Redmond, Oregon
1969 CW2 Lawrence J. Babyak (USAR) -- B/1/9 CAV 1 CAV, Age 24, Van Nuys, California
1969 WO1 Dennis D. Bogle (USAR) -- 11 GS AVN 1 CAV, Age 21, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1969 CW2 Jack D. Knepp (USAR) -- 11 GS AVN 1 CAV, Age 29, Big Bear City, California
1969 1LT Kenneth B.K. Kozai (USMCR) -- HMM-364, Age 26, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1969 WO1 Kenneth A. Luse (USAR) -- B/1/9 CAV 1 CAV, Age 19, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1969 1LT Dennis J. Reardon (USMCR) -- HMM-364, Age 24, Cohasset, Massachusetts
1970 CW2 Franklin D. Defenbaugh -- 1 Field Force, Age 37, Superior, Wisconsin

Tribute to 1LT Kenneth B.K. Kozai (USMCR) and 1LT Dennis J. Reardon; KIA Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Ken was killed while flying in the 7th Marines AOR. A fine man, good leader,and a professional in the air, Ken was an inspiration to all who knew him. We met during our time in California before Vietnam in 1968. I enjoyed him then and I enjoyed him in Vietnam. He had a great colorful nylon jacket with lots of stars. I think it said something about Captain America on the jacket. He could always cheer us up with his ready jokes and neat jacket. Tragically, he was killed wearing the jacket. His death saddened many of us. May God bless him.

Dennis was with us only a short time, but enough time to make a profound impression on all of us in HMM-364. We were all First Lieutenants in those days. Seniority was the individual who had a few more days in-county than the next. My tour started in June 69 so I was an old timer by the time Denny got there. We flew together a number of times during his tour in Vietnam. He was a good pilot who inspired confidence and professionalism. He was killed with another good friend, Ken Kozai, in the 7th Marines AOR. The day was cold, overcast, and gray. Dennis and Ken were two people who could make a gray day clear and bright with their personalities. They are missed. May God bless both of them.

Colonel Dave McSorley, USMC (Retired)

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[lodwick]

[daisyscarlett]

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Lori, this is wonderful thread. Thank you so much.

I finally went to the doctor late Weds because my flu-like symptoms were not improving. He gave me some meds etc but I was not well enough yesterday to cook (hee hee) but was improved enough to issue instructions to all from the couch on how and what to do...lol...And of course, my appetite was never affected.

I am much better today but not well enough to hit the sales, drats. If I rest today, there is hope for tomorrow...

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and will continue to have a fantabulous weekend.

[Mo1]

[Salvation]

**May they reach those that are needing them today - people like me.**

Lod,
Don't we all need these uplifting thoughts now and then. Our weaknesses call upon the Lord, and then --- lo! Some crazy person like me posts something that hits one right between the eyes. It has happened to me many times.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And this sunset picture is beautiful.

[lodwick]

[ST.LOUIE1]

Good morning, Ms.Daisy!

I'm so glad to see you and to know you're feeling better.: )

Never lost your appetite, eh? : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Pink curlers...LOL