USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Help Decorate the Canteen Christmas Tree ~ December 14 2002

68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

It's that time of year to start decorating the Canteen Christmas Tree.
We know from traffic stats from the Post Office that military lurkers come here daily.
They come to "escape" from the often dreary world they live in while ensuring our Freedom.
Many of our service men and women are experiencing their 1st Holiday Season away from home.

Will you take a few moments from your day today to post an ornament for the tree?
This may be cyberspace but know that military lurkers today will know they are not forgotten.

[Aura Of The Blade]

Hello Tonkin - the Canteen is looking good.

Have a great day.

[larryjohnson]

[Soaring Feather]

Oooh thank you so much, it is truly beautiful!

[larryjohnson]

Maine State Flower & Tree
Pine Cone & Tassel & (Eastern) White Pine
(Pinus strobus)
.
.
..
Maine: The Pine Tree State
    
A number of states have adopted arboreal blossoms, or flowers that bloom on trees, as state flowers. But can you imagine adopting a pine cone as a state flower?
   That's exactly what Maine did! It all started at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. States were asked to choose floral emblems at the Fair. The Maine State Floral Emblem Society was quickly formed for the task.
   Three candidates were chosen. Two, the goldenrod and apple blossom, were genuine flowers. The third was the pine cone and tassel.
   This is not so surprising when you consider that Maine's towering white pines were very famous. A pine was already depicted on Maine's state seal and flag, and Maine was nicknamed the Pine Tree State.
   A pine tree flag represented New England, to which Maine belongs, during the Revolutionary War. But for the whims of history, it might now be our national flag!
   New England's white pines became famous before the United States even existed. Europe's forests had long been exploited for lumber, which was used to build ships as well as homes. Tall, straight trees were especially in demand for use as masts. (A mast is a pole which supports sails.)
   When Columbus discovered America in 1492, Spain was one of the most powerful nations. But England's navy was also becoming larger. The ship-building trade greatly depleted England's limited forests.
   No better source of "mast trees" could be found than "New England." Here, white pines towered more than one hundred feet above the rocky ground littered with pine needles.
   In 1605, Captain George Weymouth of the British Royal Navy collected white pine from Maine and sent the samples back to England. In 1691, England established a "Broad Arrow Policy." Trees that were twenty-four inches or more in diameter and grew within three miles of water belonged to the Royal Navy. Such trees were blazed with the "mark of the broad arrow." This is how the term "King's Pine" originated.
   Most of Maine's mast trees were cut by 1850. Lumber production peaked in 1909, not long after Maine adopted its state flower.
   State flower ballots appeared in Maine's leading newspapers in November and December of 1894. Everyone older than sixteen was invited to vote.
   There was evidence that the Floral Emblem Society wanted the pine cone adopted from the beginning. Indeed, it has been reported that the campaign may have not been a "clean" one.
   The pine cone won 10,000 of 17,000 votes. It was adopted as Maine's state flower on February 1, 1895.
   In 1945, the white pine was adopted as Maine's state tree. Today, it is called the eastern white pine, which is also the official tree of Michigan and Ontario. Idaho's state tree is the even taller western white pine.
 

[Soaring Feather]

Thank you so much! It's wondrous! I appreciate it so much!

[Soaring Feather]

Maine State Flower & Tree
Pine Cone & Tassel & (Eastern) White Pine
(Pinus strobus)

But can you imagine adopting a pine cone as a state flower?

Without the seeds no trees!! Makes perfect sense to me!!
Thank you for this great information. Good reading!

[larryjohnson]

[Soaring Feather]

WOW WOW

This is just fabulous the red and green!!!!

I love it!!!!

[Soaring Feather]

Dearest coteblanche,

Thank you for the lovely Christmas ornament for the canteen tree.

We appreciate your loyal support to the troops.

Blessings on Canada's service men and woman, too.

God Bless you richly!

The TROOPS will love it!!

[Soaring Feather]

USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37)

Thank you for posting the classic ship series.

It's always good reading.

[kayak]

[Dubya]

Thanks for the flowers Tonk.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

We would LOVE to post a card to all the Military LURKERS :o)

Problem is, we are both html disabled. :o(

God Bless all the troops while you are away. WE DO KNOW FIRSTHAND what it is like... and we want you to know how much we love you and how appreciated you are.

Know in your hearts that we are with you.. we will be praying for you on Christmas (as we do EVERY night, and OUT LOUD) and YOU will hold special places in our hearts.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

~~~MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS AND GALS!!~~~~

Vets, Husband and Wife

[Dubya]

Thanks for the update SamWolf.

[Dubya]

"Tar Heel State,"

When we were fighting the war with the British, the war got hot and heavy and all the solders ran except the ones from NC. The American Gen. asks them why they didn't run too. They told him "I guess we have tar on our heels Sir", speaking of the tar in tobacco.

[Dubya]

Glad to get this fine update. Merry Christmas and get well soon.

[Dubya]

Nice snowman. I hope the storm didn't get you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click for current time
in Afghanistan

[Kathy in Alaska]

FREE TED MAHER

Click on Ted for Ted Maher Thread

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"