A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-10-03...."Kissed by a President"

Dutchess and Billie

[dutchess]

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

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 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: 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.

GROUP 7A: 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.

GROUP 8A: 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.

      

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.

                     

Kissed by a President

Moments before the infamous kiss!
OhioWFan

Here is the only person I know who has never doubted her conservative values; pioneered women's intercollegiate basketball; observed the beauty of Walker Point and the devastation of Ground Zero; been hugged and kissed by her President; and worshipped the Lord with her husband and four children in six- part harmony in front of her entire congregation;

OhioWFan Came by Her Conservatism Naturally

No one should ever accuse OhioWFan of being a neo-conservative. There is NOTHING neo about her conservatism.

My upbringing was conservative and patriotic. Both my interest in politics and my love of country came early and runs deep. I can remember staying up later than my bedtime in the fall of 1960, hiding so that my parents wouldn't know I was listening to the election results. When I found out that Nixon lost to JFK, I cried.

At 14, Ohio's Dad took her to a Barry Goldwater rally, and she proudly wore her "If I were 21 I'd vote for Barry"- button. She watched both the Republican and Democratic conventions that summer just for the fun of it. That was when the candidates were actually selected at the conventions, and she remembers wanting William Scranton to win because she thought he was cuter. That was the last time she based her political opinions on the candidate's appearance. After Goldwater was chosen as the candidate, she read with great interest "A Choice, Not an Echo" by Phyllis Schlafly, and discovered, for the first time, how corrupt Democrats like LBJ could be.

I grew up in Youngstown, where machine politics and the mafia ruled the Democratic party. I came to believe my Dad was right when he said he didn't know how you could be a Christian and be a Democrat. In spite of my history teachers' and professors' attempts to make a liberal out of me, I co-chaired the Young Republican club in college, and door to door campaigned for Richard Nixon in 1968, right in the heart of Hubert Humphrey country. I was thrilled at a rally when I got to shake his hand.

The Family Years

Having given birth to four children during the eighties, OWFAN was politically inactive during the Reagan and Bush 41 administrations. During, what she racalls, the nightmare from 1992-2000, she "buried my head in the proverbial sand to avoid its explosion all the while dedicating myself to being a good wife, raising solid Christian kids, and helping my husband inculcate conservatism into their minds both by heredity and environment". As a family, they traveled extensively to all 48 contiguous states, Canada and Mexico. They also ventured as a family to Ukraine on a mission trip.

I kept myself professionally alive through part time musical involvement in church and schools, and continue on a part time basis as an adjunct professor of music.

The Birth of Her Admiration for our President and Discovery of FR

In the spring and summer of 2000, I observed with interest the Republican primary and the candidacy of George W. Bush. As I watched W's candidacy emerge, I began to sense that God's hand was on him. When he spoke at the convention in August, I wept because I sensed that there was hope that America was not going to continue swirling down the moral and ethical drain. As a result, I signed up . . . somewhat boldly for me . . .to be an e-champion and try to help elect him as President. I didn't know about Free Republic at the time, and how I wish I had had the moral support of the wonderful people here during that election fiasco. All I had was Rush, Fox News, and my family to commiserate with. I was also able to turn to the Lord, of course, to beg for justice to be done and His will to be done. I still praise Him every day for having mercy on a very undeserving nation, and allowing us to have this Godly servant of HIS to be our President. I found out about Free Republic on Fox and Friends, lurked for a little over a month, and signed up in early March of 2001, venturing first on the Pray for President Bush thread and, of course, on the Dose.

If you ever want to find OhioWFan at night...simply head to THE DOSE where she also will post the thread in Rintense's absence (and sometimes when Rintense is there and has already done the thread) She is also a gifted writer who will often share on FR her travels including this past year to Kennibunkport and Ground Zero.

The Infamous Kiss

I can't believe that there is anyone in FR who has not heard about the infamous kiss...but it is worth repeating!

All of my friends, and most of the women I've ever had contact with are filled with jealousy about my "close encounter" with President Bush. It was at the invitation of WVNan that my son, Eric and I got to go to Charleston to hear the President speak last October. Little did we know that, with a little persistence, and a lot of standing and waiting, we would get to see him "up close and personal." When he got to me on the rope line I managed to say what I planned on saying to him "I pray for you and Laura every day." He leaned forward, gave me a hug, kissed me on the cheek and then looked me right in the eye and said, "that's the kindest thing you can do for me." Then he shook Eric's hand, who is currently serving in our armed forces. Eric smiled at him and, later said in amazement, "I just shook hands with my Commander-in-Chief." I personally have not recovered yet.

And Now A Military Mom

Eric enlisted in the army shortly after graduating from high school last spring. Many of us followed with interest and pride Ohio's reports of his progress and his graduation was featured on FR'S FINEST this fallErics graduation He is on his way to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky with the 79th Quartermaster Co. in a water supply unit in which he is a petroleum specialist. It is expected that he will be there one or two weeks before deployment overseas.

My "mother's heart" is filled with pride and fear at the same time as he serves the country we all love, and I continue to ask for prayers for him, and for all those who so bravely serve America in our military.

OhioWFan "In Her Own Words"

I had the great pleasure of meeting OHIO last month and the following statement is, indeed, the essence of who she is

It is the desire of my heart to serve the Lord with my life. I serve as an elder in our Church, on the worship committee, in the choir and as a soloist, pianist, and organist as needed. I love music as an avocation, as well as a vocation, and the greatest fun I've ever had as a musician is singing six-part harmony with my husband and kids in Church. I love sports, both as a fan (Browns, Indians and, of course, OHIO State), and as a participant. I was fortunate to be a sort of "pioneer" in women's sports when I was one of 1500 women nationwide who participated on an intercollegiate basketball team in the late '60s. We have had a family tradition of playing 3 on 3 basketball games, boys against girls. But when the boys grew to be over 6 feet, we mercifully stopped keeping score. Mostly I am just deeply thankful for the abundance of good and perfect gifts that God has blessed me with: for family and friends; for health and comfort; and for a free and glorious land in which to live."

A Woman oF Great Faith, A Gifted Musician, A Loving Wife and Mother, an Athlete with a Keen Sense of Humor, That s Our Very Own OhioWFan




OhioWFan, You ARE one of FR's Finest!

THIS WEEKEND'S THREAD

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

[dutchess]

How're you doing? Hope this day was special for you. It was for me to be able to feature you. Have faith that the Lord is watching over Eric and all our military men and women...It was with great pleasure that you "allowed" me to use you as my test spotlight!

Sweet dreams. I bet Eric and all the others are so pumped up...this is what they have chose to do...

[nicmarlo]

Who do you suppose is brainwashed?

I occasionally listen to NPR (very occasionally)....when I have, I don't hear them recommending books to read, I never hear them having guests on who differ in the "P.C." accepted beliefs.....yet, on FOX, for example, they ALWAYS have on guests with opposing views. Savage (who I find to abrasive to listen to regularly) never tells you "take his word for it." He and Hannity and Boortz and Rush always direct you to the source they're quoting....they state dates, events, etc. NPR just spits out what's the talking point of the day; as you said brainwashing propaganda. No facts, or if any, they're taken so out of context, it's contemptible.

[nicmarlo]

what an absolute cutie!!!!

[ohioWfan]

Oh, Faith, I appreciate those kind words so very much!

It was DittoJed's and your commitment to praying for the President that was one of the main reasons I was drawn to FR in the first place......thanks for coming here, and THANKS for your prayers for Eric. This is the hardest thing I have ever done.....to let this precious little boy, turned courageous young man go. I told him the other night that I was tempted to take away that dedication of him to the Lord to do whatever HE willed with him! (He knew I was kidding).

dutchess, Billie, daisy......FAITH is a FR GEM! Think about featuring her someday!

[nicmarlo]

What a day that will be

Won't it be though? A part of me longs for that, daily; the other part wants to see my children have children....even though I know we'd all be so much happier with the Lord, never to look back, never to miss a thing.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Well, well, uhhh....well, uhhhh.....

He's not your GRANDCHILD!

(Phew, I made it through THAT one!)

[ohioWfan]

Oh honey, you don't have to worry about that sweet spirit. He knows the Lord. That will keep his spirit whole.

Oh, thanks for those words, Nan! You are so right!

The sweet spirit he possesses comes from his Savior. No demons in Iraq can take it away from him!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

A big DITTO to all you're saying. Kids, relatives, neighbors....we ARE closer here, aren't we?

I was chastised during the election, by a family member who I'd THINK would be at least a tad interested, as her dad served in the military....that I needed to stop sending her political stuff. Is that all I was interested in? Do I think that's HEALTHY? Is everything OK, yada yada yada.

Sad, cuz yes, a LOT was riding on that election. Good grief.

[KansasConservative]

Thanks for the welcome Billie! This is a wonderful thread and I'll definitely stop by more often.

[JustAmy]

She is a cutie. I'm sooo happy that Mom got her for us.



I'm sure glad Mom took this picture of us!!!

[ohioWfan]

OH, dutchess!! This day was so very special for me! THANK YOU!!!

I am so exhausted.......as my Mom used to say bone weary......that I may not make it to the Dose!

If I don't, could you tell my friends there about Eric's leaving today?

You know what's funny? He's in KENTUCKY! I'm falling apart, and he's in KENTUCKY!
........One day at a time!

(And did you see that pic when he was 15 months? Makes you want to tweak his cute little cheeks, doesn't it?)

[lonestar]

I ditto that!

[ohioWfan]

Nice recovery, BG. hehe

[Brad’s Gramma]

(gulp)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Cut yourself some slack for about a month, kiddo. You'll have good days, and bad. Just be prepared for the bad. Take naps, don't feel bad about feeling bad, walk, do some FUN stuff, go sit in his room, and most importantly read God's Word. Pray. Read the Word some more.

Log on.

HARRASS ME! Harrass Homeschool Mama! Yeah, SHE needs it!!!!

.........you know. Stuff like that. Do you still have my phone number?????????

[nicmarlo]

a LOT was riding on that election. Good grief.

I got made fun of, too; I lost sleep and weight; I was awakened in the middle of the night to pray (I sleep through earthquakes, sirens blaring, telephones ringing....but at that time, a still small voice woke me up to pray for Bush, for what was going on in Judge Sanders' Court, and in all the other countless actions filed in Florida); I even sent flowers to the lawyers in Florida, thanking them for what they did defending Kathryn Harris, to whom I sent e-mails; calls to Gore's VP office, stating my anger about what he was doing.....up until they shut off the phones....I think they had too many complaints; I sent e-mails to my Colorado Senators Campbell and Allard about the military votes, I called G.W. Bush's office and spoke to a man, telling him how upset I was, how I am praying for Bush, etc.; and I could never sleep past 5:30 a.m.......I'd turn on FOX to find out what NEXT happened/was happening....and there I'd pray, yet again); my fingers swelled so bad, I had to go to the doctor....he said it was nerves.....

No one could understand why I was SO upset about what Algore, the Rats, and the Florida Supremes were doing....they didn't GET IT; they were either totally unconcerned or if upset, not nearly to the extent I was. Those who were upset/angry just didn't have the passion about how WRONG this was, for our country, our rule of law, or our futures.

[WVNan]

LOL...don't we get so tired of being treated like the old lady/gentleman who is "a bit off" and somewhat obsessed with politics? "Something unhealthy about "dwelling" so much on "negative" things." "You need to get a life." Yada yada yada.

[ohioWfan]

Sage advice, Gramma. But what if I have bad days when I need to have good days? hmmmmm???

Seriously, I will sit in his room and cry, I will strive to be in God's Word every day, and I might just give you that call.

[Brad’s Gramma]

But what if I have bad days when I need to have good days?

May I get back to you on that? The doctor stepped out for a minute. Thank you for your patience.

[ohioWfan]

Thanks, lonestar!