A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-07-03...The Blue Star Flag

LadTx and Billie | Ladtx

[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.

<

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.

                     

The American War Mothers flag
(The Blue Star Flag)

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Blue Star Flag by ladtx

I hung two blue star flags in the window today, one for each of our sons.      Two yellow ribbons would have sufficed to show our concern and our love but the blue stars are more fitting, so there they hang.

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

Yellow ribbons have become “de rigueur” when our soldiers go to war. During the Gulf War they were everywhere; trees, fences, front porches and the back windows of automobiles. It was a spontaneous and caring display of concern for our troops. It had been carried over from the days of the imprisonment of the hostages held in Iran ten years before. Inspired by the popular song, “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn, those yellow bows showed our concern. Although heartfelt and indicative of the love of those left behind, particularly for friends, relatives and our troops as a whole, there is a predecessor that is more steeped in history and I believe more appropriate symbol for display by mothers and fathers.

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

The American War Mothers flag was first displayed during World War I. The blue star on a white background trimmed in red was a design created by Robert L. Queissner of Ohio to reflect the WWI service of his two sons. The flag was displayed in windows to denote the home of a soldier’s mother. As WWI progressed and American lives were lost a new flag developed from the blue star. When a son was killed the, mothers began sewing a gold star over the blue and soon thereafter President Wilson began referring to these women as “Gold Star Mothers.”

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In 1925 the U.S. Congress granted the American War Mothers a national charter. The following year on what was then Armistice Day, now Veterans Day, the American War Mothers flag was raised over the Capitol for the first time. Today the War Mothers Flag flies beneath the National Colors every Veterans Day until sundown.

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

On the July 1942 cover of McCall’s, a blue-star flag appears in the window above a mother and son.

World War II, once again, saw the practice of hanging the Blue and Gold Star flags in windows. Sadly, the practice of displaying the Blue Star or Gold Star flags in the windows of mothers during the Korean and Vietnam Wars never gained widespread practice. It is one that should be taken up again. It has become one of our traditions that have fallen by the wayside and that is a shame. Traditions define us and to lose them one by one is to slowly lose ourselves and perhaps our way.

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

On September 24, 1917 an Ohio congressman read the following into the Congressional record, referring
to the War Mothers Flag:

“The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother – their children.”

SCOUTS OUT!

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

Ladtx flew UH-1's in Vietnam, OH-58's in Germany, and the CH-47 Chinook in Korea and Texas. He served 20 years in the United States Army. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW4). Click on the calvery horses above to read more about him, and his family. Two of his three sons have recently been deployed: one in the USAF and the other USAR. ~ Billie

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Father God, the star is the symbol You chose when You gave us the Ultimate Gift of Your Child. Heralding that birth was a bright and shining star in a dark sky, and ladtx has hung blue stars representing his two children, sent forth in Your name. They represent also the feelings of those who read and echo this prayer, honoring the sacrifices we, too, are willing to make in Your name, honoring the greatest of gifts - pure love. Believing in You, we entrust our sons and daughters to Your care all the years of their lives, from first breath to last; and most especially, we ask You to protect them when their absence is for the greater good of mankind. Be with them in every situation, Father. Send the Holy Spirit to fill them and all family and friends involved with Your peace and certainty of purpose. We believe America is the nation that was established in Your Holy Name, and ask Your help in our efforts to preserve her and to act according to Your will. Guide all those in positions of authority through the storms and trials ahead, particularly our President. Thank You for hearing our pleas, Lord. Amen.

Thank you, LadyX, for the beautiful prayer.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-03-03 Pippin's Thoughts 03-04-03 Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) 03-05-03 BilltheDrill 03-06-03 JohnHuang2 Essay

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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[JulieRNR21]

May God bBless and protect all who serve to safeguard our freedom!!!

[LadyX]

The Elijah List is a regular publication I receive, and the one arriving today is quite relevant to things our President expressed last night.
It gives pause for thought and action, even admonishing us to not judge those who do not agree with our views.

It must be that
Each of us is one of His Works in Progress!!!

====================================================
As President Bush Spoke this evening of being comforted by the Prayers of thousands of people . . .
========================================================

Dear Elijah List Readers,

This list now goes to about 72,000 of you. Please forward this to as many of your friends as you can.

As Our President spoke tonight of being comforted by "thousands" (it's probably literally millions) who are praying for him regarding this potential war with Iraq, I thought of the UN'S resolution 1441 that everyone has talked about . . . the resolution which requires Sadaam Hussein to disarm or BE disarmed . . ..

---I don't know if I heard this somewhere or from someone else (maybe I did and can't remember from whom I heard it) . . . nevertheless, I was suddenly drawn to Psalm 144:1 (from Resolution 1441 -- God doesn't waste ANY word or any thought).

======================
Here is what it says:
======================

Ps 144:1
Blessed be the LORD my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle --
(NKJV)

I felt led to make this call to increase our prayers for President Bush in this hour!

Please forward this to all you know who love to pray for this country.

When the Lord is the ROCK of the King or the President . . .
When the Lord Trains his hands for War and his fingers for battle . . .
----this is what the Lord (among other things) includes in that training:

1) Brilliant strategies regarding how to overtake the enemy by surprise (Should we need to war with Sadaam Hussein)

2) A Sudden "uncovering" of the enemy's secret plots and vicious plans of attack, both in Iraq and on our USA soil

3) An exposing of accomplices who are not yet known--who are aiding Sadaam against the USA

4) A confusing of the enemy so that he fights against himself--rather than against the USA and her allies

5) Strategies which protect ALL innocents on both sides. In this case, our prayers should be that "IF" we MUST go to war, that the innocents in Iraq are completely protected and the soldiers who are following orders and acting righteously (on both sides) are also protected.

6) That all innocent civilians on U.S. Soil and those of our allies are protected supernaturally.

Pray Psalm 91 regarding the USA and our allies in conflict with Iraq, should war break out
Pray Psalm 144:1 regarding the USA and our allies in conflict with Iraq, should war break out

================================================
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THOSE WHO DISAGREE
=================================================

Good people "on both sides" will find themselves in disagreement with how the USA handles this situation. In Prayer, our job is not to judge those who disagree with our going to war (or not). For instance, we must NOT find ourselves criticizing, if a given celebrity is vocal against this war, while another may not be against it. Judgment on our part...as people who pray . . .judgment AGAINST those who disagree with our position (whatever it is) -- is NOT pleasing to the Lord. Confess your judgments against those who disagree and bless them in prayer. That WILL be pleasing to the Lord and will truly "be" Christian.

Pray for President George Bush...according to Psalms 91 (See www.ministriestothenations.org) and Psalm 144:1

Also, Yes, please forward this to your own lists and post on your own website(s). Others may subscribe to THE ELIJAH LIST by sending an email (to receive similar words and calls to prayer) to: subscriptions@elijahlist.com or by going to: http://www.elijahlist.com

Steve Shultz, Publisher The Elijah List
http://www.elijahist.com

==============================================

Much food for thought ~ ~ ~

[firewalk]

Thank you for your service, please also thank your sons for my family.

Thanks also for explaining the history of the blue star flags. I'll soon have one of them hanging in my window.

(my husband served in the Marines, and my middle son leaves soon...also the Marines)

Hope you have a wonderful day (-:

[daisyscarlett]

Good morning. Enjoyed the photos of you in your aqua coat at the D.C. Freep last weekend. Bless you for attending, cold weather, bad back and all.

Yes, you should hang a couple of yellow ribbons for your niece and nephew and encourage their parents to hang the blue star. Are they brother and sister or cousins?

[daisyscarlett]

Good to see you both this a.m.......you are so loyal to the Finest Thread...miss you on the rare occasions you are not here when I log on....

[Pippin]

My Nephew,Brian, is my brother's oldest son

My niece, Melissa, is my youngest sister's oldest daughter.

I heard from Angelwood that there was going to be a "human shield" demonstration at the White House by the DC chapter tomorrow.

I wish I could go, but we have overtime and I already made plans to work it and try to get extra money so I can attend more rallies.

[daisyscarlett]

Thank you for sharing the Elijah List you received today and thank you for all the lovely prayers you share with us on a regular basis....

[ladtx]

Thank you BeforeISleep. Good luck and God speed to your son. We are proud of them all.

[FreeTheHostages]

THERE you are! :) Don't feel sorry for me about the snow -- I love it and I love to shovel it too!

Good to see you, Daisy!

[daisyscarlett]

Probably will miss you when you come on later today. Hope you get to "do a wedding soon" to offset all the funerals you have had lately....

[Pippin]

(((FTH)))!

[g'nad]

Isaiah 58:6-12
"Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?

"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,

And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.

"And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

[LadyX]

As one unable to participate in a rally, God bless you, Pippin, for representing me and many of us so often and so beautifully.

{{{{{{{{{{ Hugs ...:)

[.45MAN]

Well it's now goodafternoon! so I with everyone a great rest of the day. And we will be off to a pro Bush rally tomorrow in south atlanta..

[Billie]

Sistah Daisy, I am so happy to see you here today, because I wanted to wish you Bon Voyage and have a fantastic Island Vacation next week!!!!

[daisyscarlett]

Thinking of you and your Marine son. May God Bless and Keep Him.

[daisyscarlett]

Thank you, Billie.

I almost forgot-I love the pledge graphic you chose today. Bet it brought memories to lots of Blue Star moms of when their boys were little and they played "soldier".....

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for posting this.....truly amazing & inspiring!

[dansangel]

Stunning display and essay today. So fitting in light of our President's press conference last evening.

{{{{{{{Ladtx}}}}}}}}}} - you and your sons are in my prayers. May God bless you and continue to grant you and your family the strength and grace that you have shown throughout these troubling times.

{{{{{{Billie}}}}}}} - beautiful....just beautiful!

[LadyX]

May God richly bless you and yours, g'nad, for the understanding and spreading of the precepts that guide Christians in war situations.

These passages, in particular, bear repeating:

"And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

"Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell."

Amen and Amen!!!