A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-03-02

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.

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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; 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.

                     

Today's Finest FReeper has such a wonderful way with words that daisy, dansangel, MamaBear, and I are always anxious to see his first post each day. Oh, the pictures he paints and the smiles he brings! :) It came as no surprise, then, to learn he is an artist by trade, and I was thrilled when he sent me copies of some of his work to share with you today.

jwfiv
Freeper since March 1, 1998

Again, as with many of our profiles, there is no better way to present them than in their own words. Here, then, are jwfiv's:

You have to be careful when you ask a hermit 'Wassup?'. : )

jwfiv with nephews in 1993

I'm a Boomer, born in '51 from the love between a country boy and a farmer's daughter, in Ft. Worth, Texas. Spent the Wonder Years growing up in New Mexico, California, Arizona, Colorado, then back to Arizona in time to graduate high school in '69 and catch the wave of revolution that tinged the air and times. By then, my inborn love of country and vision of John Wayne's America had been shattered by the headlines of that decade, and my political views colored by an anti-American rage.

I swallowed the tripe of the tripesters and believed the leftie lines, or many of them, though not all. I was the first feminist I ever knew...wore a black arm band on the first Earth Day (sheesh, I'm so embarassed)...marched on campus the night after Kent State, chanting for an end to war.

Those three years, from '68 to '70, were a cauldron of hope and bitter reality...from the Apollo program, Bobby and Martin murdered, Chicago, Vietnam as I saw it through the media lenses, to Woodstock, Altamont, My Lai and Watergate...all accompanied by the soundtrack of '60s rock n'roll, pop and soul.

I dropped out of college after the second year, feeling guilty over my student deferment and having no direction other than that I figured it was time to go to work.

A lottery number kept me a civilian, and a job and marriage kept me busy the next decade - my medieval period - when the fire of revolution faded because I saw it was a sham and a lazy liberalism held sway.

Roe v. Wade was a reason to celebrate, as Nixon's resignation had been, and....I voted for Jimmy Carter. (Holy smokes, did I just say that out loud?!)

My wife left me as the '70s ended, I left my job and lived on a ranch in the Sierras for most of the next four years ... taking care of a wise old man then in his 90s. He was still sharp and vigorous ... a scholar, prospector, and philosopher who devoted his life to rational thought and honesty. He also was a factor in my conversion from the dark, or gray, side of Force. He loved the Gipper, was a life long Republican, still holding a grudge against Roosevelt for abandoning the gold standard.

Sometimes we would leave the solitude of the ranch and travel the roads of California, where he introduced me to the Lost Coast, the High Sierras, Death Valley and other wonders of the Golden State. I made a great many friends in those days; some have passed on now, but all are part of me.

The road to the ranch on a cold winter's day a long time ago.
It's a beautiful spot; many John Wayne and
Hoppy movies (and more) were filmed nearby.

The apathy and liberal fog started to lift around then as I began to care and learn about the world, the headlines again having an impact upon my politics, but this time they spoke of the failures of liberal policy, the Great Society, and our emasculated President Carter.

I was still a bit transient when I had the first opportunity to mark my ballot for the one and only Ronaldus Magnus and so didn't vote that year, a mistake I didn't repeat four years later. By '84, I was a fire-breathing conservative, proud of my President, my heritage as an American, and a believer in that shining city on a hill.

Once more, the headlines had changed me, but this time it was President Reagan's genuine goodness and faith in the charter of our Founders, his stand against the Soviets, and the Communist genocide in Asia that swayed me into a rather jolting new view of the world. To love America again, and the ideals and hopes which She embodies, was like coming home, and I rejoiced to find out the Duke had been right all along (bless his heart and memory).

More transforming than the headlines was my own awakened religious life and love for God and His Creation. I realized one day that this love had made it impossible to be 'pro-choice'. I knew that Life trumped choice, and the conservative me was fully born.

A rebel when I was a kid, I got to be one again, in my unwillingness to go along with the liberal consensus of much of my neighborhood, circle of friends, workplace. Living today in the la-la land of Southern California, I still have the occasional and delightful opportunity of surprising the well-intended with my secret identity, a joy I relish.

I took my parents to see the Gipper when he came to ASU right after his term ended in '89...he stood tall and strong in his dark suit, radiant and eloquent...my Dad leapt out of his seat to cheer for him as he ended his speech.

Politics is football and chess and church all mixed up into a passion that is painful when the Devil is in the captain's chair, and the headlines of the 90s were as glorious as all the other decades', but, even more agonizing because of the character and misdeeds of he whose name shall not be spoken, and his Red Queen.

President Bush, our Commander-In-Chief, and his beautiful and loving First Lady, are proof to me that God has not abandoned America. Dubya and his posse will kill the outlaws and bring Law and Order to the badlands west of the Euphrates, while proving to all the fence-sitters that, in the long and short run, Truth and Justice and the American way beat the livin' tar outta xlintonomics and xlintonian amorality, not to mention any and all al-queda-type jihadis.

Free Republic came into my life like a new light in the sky, back in early '98, when I jumped to the Whitewater Page from Drudge. Been here since, never strayed, ain't gonna. I'm eternally grateful to Jim Robinson and all Freepers for the knowledge and news and community given me then and all the time since.

Mostly just a reader with an occasional something to say, my most significant contribution to FR was the introduction of the gracious and notorious Serb5150 to Freeperville back a couple of years ago...she and 3 other young GOP-type gals and I went to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley earlier this year, on the day when Nancy Reagan was there for a book signing...I sorta fell in love with Mrs. Reagan when I said hello; she is beautiful as flowers.

I am an artist/designer by trade, with 20 years in traditional media; for 12 years I've been digital. It is my occupation, and vocation. Currently doing work for children's education programs on the web, I'll take the opportunity of this day with you all to share with Freepers a little of what I see inside, on my own...work done not for money, just for free.

"Moonlight"

"Llewlyn Canyon"

"Snowfall"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Semper fi, and may God bless America always, and protect Her. I wanna see Lady Liberty's light shine forever.   ~ jwfiv

Once again I'd like to thank jwfiv for sharing his story and some of his art with us today. There's one more graphic of a different kind that seems fitting for a thread where we honor our military every day; I couldn't leave this one out:

Thank you, jwfiv,
for being part of our Finest Family!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

12-02-02 NicMarlo

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

[dansangel]

Pop the cork on a bottle of champaign and celebrate! :-)

Don't tempt me!! I mentioned it to Dan, because we do have a bottle in the fridge, but thought better of it since tomorrow is a w-o-r-k day :(

That's if we don't get hit with the ice storm the weather menches are predicting!

[dutchess]

So glad to meet you and what a great profile. While I love all freepers equally...I feel a special infinity to those who found this site in 98 on Drudge...I still remember the thrill when I discovered this site!

I can also relate to your early liberalism. I protested the Vietnam war (until I met my first returning Vietnam vet while a junior in college), my first political activism was to campaign for George McGovern...geeze.... I admit to being one step ahead of you because I voted for Reagan the first time.

What I loved best of your story though was your relationship with the elderly conservative man you took care of. I felt chills reading that part and believe you both were put together for a purpose. I bet he is smiling on you today. Thanks for being here and fighting the good fight!

Billie..and our wonderful hostesses. Thanks for a wonderful spotlight today

[daisyscarlett]

Welcome home from work. Since you aren't puttng up a tree (cauz you're gonna be gone) here are some for you and .45man to enjoy...

[ofMagog]

It ain't nice to pick on your elders...

[dansangel]

Thank-you daisy!

Those are so cute....and just my size!! LOL!

{{{{{{{{{daisy}}}}}}}}

[daisyscarlett]

Who was the original artist for Jingle Bell Rock? I'm thinking Brenda Lee, which gives you a hint as to how old I am...hee hee

[daisyscarlett]

Thank you Meekie....Yep, I'll have me an eggnog tonight, with a touch of brandy too...

[daisyscarlett]

Hello Lori. So good to see you and you brought a special graphic for jwfiv, too. Have not seen you in so long....

[daisyscarlett]

How are things in the great state of S.C. Are you going to get some of that bad weather that is threatening Atlanta?

[daisyscarlett]

Good to see you dutchess. Have Giz and Dude gotten over the trauma of being "Home Alone" for a whole week...lol....Loved your story about Giz jumping on your suitcases. He sure is a smart doggie. But then lots of FReepers have smart pets....And well cared for and loved too, unlike poor Socks and Buddy...

[LadyX]

"It ain't nice to pick on your elders..."

Methinks if we were in China, we would both be considered 'Venerable Ones' !!

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Daisy! Gosh, it seems like it has been forever since I have talked to you. I read about your trip back from the airport and your car trouble.....sounds like an ordeal, but you did get a Mannheim Steamroller CD out of it, that was a good thing. But, then you broke you glasses, that was NOT a good thing. And you've been sick. Poor thing, you've just had a time of it. :-(

I finally found my CDs after I finished decorating the whole house. It just isn't the same when I don't have my Christmas music playing in the background.

(((((hugs))))) backatcha. :-)

[jwfiv]

Hey Mama_Bear, pleased to see you, and thanks for the way you say hello, and congratulations. Very kind you are, very beautiful your eagles and greeting.

It's been quite a grand day for me...a few necessary tasks accomplished, a few put off until tomorrow, and everyone's been so kind on this thread today. Quite a friendly little cafe here.

Nuking dinner, and then time to relax with a movie and let the sandman take me, as he sometimes does if I sit still for too long.

I hope it's also been a good day for you, and that all is well and safe in your corner of Freeperville.

[LadyX]

No, daisy.
If you locate Augusta, most weather goes in a line northeast from there, toward Columbia.
My location is southeast of Augusta - 45 miles driving.
We almost never have any bad stuff, and if a little fluff descends every few years, we are out of our minds with delight!

I of course served 'my years' living in snowy climes - Rochester, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, some in other parts of South Carolina, South Dakota, Fairbanks, etc.

Incidentally, we had a fair amount in North Carolina, including something I never saw anywhere else.

Built my house 20 miles from Greensboro in a beautiful hardwoods setting, and stayed up all one night to watch the snowfall.
Floating past the floodlights for 2-3 hours were the most gorgeous LARGE DINNER PLATE-SIZED, lacy snowflakes you can imagine!
Unforgettable!

[jwfiv]

Soon as I read your question, I can hear Brenda Lee singing that song and, I think you're right about hers being the original.

The version I knew first was by some early '60s type group, but have no idea who...aquamarine's version was close to that one, but more recent, I think.

Who's the voice behind your golden bell, aquamarine, if I may ask.

[Mama_Bear]

I feel a special infinity to those who found this site in 98 on Drudge...I still remember the thrill when I discovered this site!

Hey, that would be me too! So many of us came here through Drudge's Whitewater link. But, I have always felt that it isn't an accident that we are all here, it's hard to explain. Anyway, I can't imagine my life without FR in it.

I enjoyed your Thanksgiving posts from Key West. It is one of my favorite places, and I could picture the cruise ships that you were seeing as you were posting and sipping your "libation". I love to read your posts, especially when you are traveling...you are so funny. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Aqua. I am sitting here listening to Jingle Bell Rock. Thank you for the music you bring. I am especially appreciating it now that I have figured which settings I needed to change in order to play wavs without having to down load them. :-)

[lodwick]

Sausage gravy & biscuits - settle down Mud

[Mama_Bear]

Floating past the floodlights for 2-3 hours were the most gorgeous LARGE DINNER PLATE-SIZED, lacy snowflakes you can imagine!

Wow! Sounds beautiful. Being raised back east, I miss snow in the winter. But we have ski resorts about 2 hours away, so if I get desparate for snow it isn't all that far to go.

[JustAmy]

Now that you mention it ...... there is always room for a Danish Diver and a Danish Pastry.