Free Republic

With our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan facing danger and loneliness, it's great to be able to pass along an e-mail from a young soldier with a different sort of problem: He's not sure who to thank. Army Capt. Craig Van Kirk's company has been getting scores of packages containing letters and goodies. But the troops don't know who sent them. "We don't want them to think that we haven't received the packages or don't appreciate them. We do, more than you know. If I were back home and spent all the time and effort to send this stuff to...

Freepers, I have been sent an email from someone stationed in Iraq regarding an urgent need by our wounded servicemen/women. For security reasons, the whole email can NOT be posted here. Read on, please. Today I went to visit the military hospital here in the Green Zone. Yesterday my boss (a Marine) had gone to visit some of the Marines brought here from the Fallujah fighting. When he asked one of the wounded Marines if there was anything he could get for him, the Marine requested a razor so he could shave and be within standards again before he was...

<p>Before you start working off those pounds from the Valentine's Day chocolate and while those roses are still bright and beautiful, know that Cedar City students made yesterday a special day even for those serving in Iraq who did not have the luxury of handing a love note personally to their sweetheart.</p>

<p>I want to thank you for my existence. I want to thank you for your sacrifices, and for your courage, because without your heroism, this world would indeed be a different place. Were it not for the brave soldiers who liberated my father from Dachau, and my mother and her family from the Nazi slaveholders, I would not be here today. Nor would millions of others, all of whom remain indebted to you.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON -- Chocolate is out. So is shaving cream in an aerosol can. And forget about pork. So what do U.S. troops fighting in Iraq War really need?</p> <p>Flea collars.</p> <p>Groups who organize military care packages say U.S. troops put the flea collars around their ankles to keep the sand fleas -- ubiquitous in the desert -- from biting. Other helpful items for troops on desert duty include wrap-around sunglasses, lip balm and sunscreen. Playing cards are in great demand, too; cards are easily lost to the desert winds, so troops welcome replacement packs.</p>

The yellow ribbon, an American symbol of loyalty and patriotism, the welcome home sign to veterans returning from war, the semi-icon that was inspired by the 19th century Civil War ballad "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," is not only selling like gangbusters at area flag shops. Randy Hanks, a Provo Parks Department employee, checks a flag after he and his co-workers placed it in front of the Provo City Library. Flags are flying out the door of flag shops.Jennifer Grigg, for the Deseret News It has inspired a gathering downtown on Saturday, April 12, of several thousand Utahns — all...

Maccraze and Jacvin put this together Thursday night, we had a pretty good showing, maybe about forty attended. Even some of the local homeless people participated, one of which was a Viet Nam Marine.

T'was a great night for FReeping in Fresno. Temperatures were in the mid 50's, with cloud cover and slight chance of showers. Light winds kept the flags fluttering, but added just enough wind chill factor to keep us bundled up. There were nine of us proud Americans present to counter about a dozen or so pro-terrorists across the street. One of our new members, Abbadean, spent most of his time over in the enemy camp "debating" with the other side. But they're really not into debate. They're so smug about being cowards and so into playing word games that debate...