A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-8-03....Military Monday

Aquamarine; Billie

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Aqua and FR's Finest... staff.

With Military Monday presentations, I can't help but think of our troops serving in far away places during the Christmas Holidays.

Takes me back a few years remembering Christmas in Subic Bay, PI 1965. Newly married in June, deployed in Sept. for a 6 month WESTPAC cruise.

I worked in the Pipe Shop at the time. In the evenings, we'd hang around the shop, playing records and tapes on newly purchased stereo equipment. Someone had a Christmas album and as we played it, some of us began singing along with the record. Soon, more guys showed up and joined in our make-shift choir. If the song wasn't on a record, we sang a cappella.

A few days later, we took a length of 3" pipe and stuck it in the pipe bender and put a 180 bend on one end. We welded it to the deck, painted it white with a red candy-stripe. A sign was welded to the side of our new candy cane with the words, "Season's Greetings from Shop 56A."

That prompted other shops to create their own decorations. Sheetmetal ornaments from the tinners, a homemade Christmas tree from the Shipfitter shop, and the Machine Shop, found a small tree, decorated it with curly metal shavings of brass, copper, steel and aluminum.

Not the same as bein' home, but still, the "Can Do" attitude proved to be a morale booster.

[Aquamarine]

In our mind, that is just what needs to be done. And you do it.

Just wish more people felt like this and I'm glad that you all do. My husband and I helped clean up our neighborhood after a tornado went through one time. The good feeling you get is reward enough.

[Aquamarine]

Good morning Temple Owl. Are you snowed in today?

[Aquamarine]

Oh my, that spoof on Kerry and Dean is hilarious! Registered does it again! :)

[Aquamarine]

Good morning JW! This is a beautiful picture of a Boy Scout being patriotic. :)

[Calpernia]

Perfect eCard for today's thread!

http://www.funnyreign.com/xmasbaghdad.shtml

[Aquamarine]

Always love having the opportunity to add another name to the Troops prayer list. It's one of the few things and the best thing we can to for them in return.

Hope no one ever hesitates to send the name of a loved one along to be added in with the others.

[Donaeus]

lol Calpernia! That's cute. :)

[Aquamarine]

That is the neatest story. It's nice to hear how the American Military can take an independant action in such an original way! At least it was a memorable Christmas. :)

[The Thin Man]

A good day to you Aqua, and a thank you to all our military and especially to the great group featured today.

[Donaeus]

It's one of the few things and the best thing we can to for them in return.

Absolutely, I couldn't have said it better! :)

[The Thin Man]

http://goexcelglobal.com/images/birdbath2.gif

When you hit preview didn't occur to you something was wrong? LOL!

I just again proves that there is one in every crowd.  

[JustAmy]

Good Morning All. I will try to get back later but I wanted to share this with you. It was in my mailbox this morning. It may take a minute to open but it's worth it!

If I should Die.

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for being nice to me today Mr. Thin Man. :)

It's your turn in the barrel Cal. :(

[LadyX]

Providing a bit of the lighter side our guys find
during war with this photograph taken in Iraq:

He's Got Game

A U.S. Army soldier from the 1-22 Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division
shoots the ball during a basketball game inside one of ousted Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein's former palaces in Tikrit on Nov. 23.

[Calpernia]

ROFL! Sorry, but the blame falls on Gail! She wasn't here with my second cup of coffee when I posted that!

[Aquamarine]

That was so good....it kept making me cry though.

Think that was a new song playing in the background, hadn't heard that one before.

[Aquamarine]

What a neat picture of the soldier playing basketball in one of Saddam's (ex) palaces! Where do you find such things?!

[Calpernia]

Love that pic Maggie! Perfect for today's thread!

[Aquamarine]

LOL!