A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-10 thru 06-12-05....T.G.I.F. at the Finest

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and 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....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, Dolly Cali ~

Welcome to TGIF at the Finest!   We hope you've been having as much fun as we have with our essays and/or spotlight on various FReepers. From the beginning, we've been kicking back on Saturdays and Sundays and simply reviewing the features of the week; our weekend threads now start on Friday and continue through Sunday. If you missed seeing any of this week's threads and want to say hello there now, just click on the link for that particular day. If you'd like to drop in and out of this thread today through Sunday, please feel free to do that also. One of us will try to be around to see the welcome mat is still out, put the coffee pot on, and maybe even bring fresh flowers for the table. : )

~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, Dolly Cali ~



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"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


06-06-05 ~ Military Monday D-Day
By Billie
Presented by The Mayor

06-07-05 ~ Mission: Possible!
By Billie

06-08-05 ~ Words - It's Story Time
By DollyCali

06-09-05 ~ They don't make Gulags like they used to anymore
By JohnHuang2
Presented by Dutchess

Have a wonderful weekend!

03-29-05 ~ Hall of Fame #11

Click on the photo to view the album. To submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man at danbh59@yahoo.com and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

Red Friday

You will soon see a lot of people wearing Red on Fridays. Here's why..... The Americans, who support our troops, are the silent majority. We are not "organized" to reflect who we are, or to reflect what our opinions are. Many Americans, like yourself, and all their friends, simply want to recognize that Americans support our troops. Our idea of showing our solidarity and support for our troops is starting Friday and continuing on each and every Friday, until this is over, that every red -blooded American who supports our young men and women, WEAR SOMETHING RED.

Word of mouth, press, TV -- let's see if we can make the United States, on any given Friday, a sea of red much like a home football game at a University. If every one of our memberships share this with other acquaintances, fellow workers, friends, and neighbors, I guarantee that it will not be long before the USA will be covered in RED - and make our troops know there are many people thinking of their well-being. You will feel better all day Friday when you wear Red! So let's get the word out and lead by example; wear RED on Fridays.

Please forward this to everyone you know!! Wear Red on Fridays ..

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE. FOR US, THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED!! GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[Billie]

I received "Red Friday" in the post above in email today. Sounds like a GREAT idea to me!

Good morning & welcome to the weekend!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Here's some news from the Asian Pacific region. We're working with allies and establishing a presence over there:

050609-N-0499M-074 Pacific Ocean (June 9, 2005) - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducts a passing exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense (JDS) force vessels, JDS Akebono (DDG 109), JDS Makinami (DDG 112) and JDS Myoko (DDG 175). The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Benfold (DDG 65) and USS Shoup (DDG 86), along with the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) and Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) also participate in the exercise. Lincoln is currently at sea conducting readiness training in support of the Navy’s Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class James R. McGury (RELEASED)

050606-N-4104L-009 South China Sea (June 6, 2005) - Republic of Singapore Navy Lt. Norman Quek and his combined visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team partner Chief Gunner's Mate Ross McDonell share information with U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security (MSST) detachment San Francisco instructor, Electronics Technician 1st Class Kyle Hallingstad, during a combined VBSS by the USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) and the Republic of Singapore Ship (RSS) Independence VBSS teams. The MSST facilitated the combined VBSS training on board USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) as part of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2005. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of bilateral military training exercises with several Southeast Asia nations designed to enhance the interoperability of the respective sea services. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Melinda Larson (RELEASED)

050606-N-5663H-168 South China Sea (June 6, 2005) - A combined U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) task group sails in formation during the at-sea portion of the Singapore phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2005. The task group, anchored by the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), center, and led by the submarine RSS Centurion, includes, clockwise from front, the missile gunboat RSS Sea Dragon, guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), missile corvette RSS Vigour, landing tank ship RSS Endeavour, missile corvette RSS Valour, guided missile frigate Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) and patrol vessel RSS Independence. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of bilateral military training exercises with several Southeast Asia nations designed to enhance the interoperability of the respective sea services. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 3rd Class David J. Ham (RELEASED)

050526-N-5663H-018 South China Sea (May 26, 2005) -- Philippine Navy SEALS have weapons drawn as they search compartments on board the U.S. Navy dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) during a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise. VBSS training is being conducted as part of Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) 2005. SEACAT is a weeklong, at sea anti-terrorism exercise in the Philippine and South China Seas. This was the first boarding by the Philippine Navy in the four-year history of SEACAT. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 3rd Class David J. Ham (RELEASED)

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning, Billie, All my freeper friends. I don't usually wear red but that's fixin to change. Look out Walmart, here I come. Good idea (((Billie))).

[Billie]

Hi! It's great to see you first thing in the morning with those fantastic photos of our Military.

[Billie]

Hi, Texagirl. I do wear a lot of red - but now I will make a POINT of wearing it on Fridays especially! (as it happens, I am not dressed yet, so the email this morning was just in time!)

[Aquamarine]

Well that's one way to get me to wear red. :)

[Billie]

For a good cause. :) (You don't wear red often then?) I thought everybody wore red! :)

[Billie]

From a returning Iraq veteran (aft_lizard), he writes on THIS thread:

"I ask first for prayers for me while I go through this trying time in my life. Secondly if any vets out there who have PTSD. WHat is the process like getting diagnosed with it, and what should I do for claims, its been almost two years since I got released from the army. And I am also afraid of hospitalization."

[Auntbee]

Happy Friday to you, Billie!

[fivekid]

Good Morning!!!

Been storming here on and off for three days

lighting thunder And computer do not mix :)

Had the kids help me get the plants outside,

and now they are all flooded(is that a word)? LOL!!!

Anyway I bought those socks that have the American

flag on one side and you turn them inside out it says

USA. The kids used to tease my me MOMMMMMMMMMMM your

your socks don't match:} I love Your idea of wearing red

on Freida's, just wish the kids were still in school to

pass the word along... But with My brood, I think We can

at the very least spread the word. BTW Thank-You for the

ping:)

[Aquamarine]

Yes it's for a good cause. I'll wear something with red in it on Friday's (just not a red outfit).

[Billie]

Good morning, Auntbee! Happy Friday to you, too, and a great weekend.

[Billie]

Hi there, fivekid! With your five kids and all their friends and their friends' moms, too - that should be a lot of red shirts or shorts or swimsuits or flipflops, etc. on Fridays! Hope this catches on, and will be adding this reminder on our future Friday threads, too!

[fivekid]

May sound stupid...

but what about red bandanna for all those that walk the

dogs? You know, like a scarf around the neck?

Or a red collar?

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to

Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine; The Mayor; DollyCali,
and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside........................2 sons LakeLady......................nephew Spruce.........................daughter Leofl......................................son chena......................................son Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece TheMayor...............friends'son homeschoolmama...........nephew mhking.........................cousin eaglesiniowa.....................son visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend Katydidnt.............................son MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews Alouette................................son Q6-God...................twin brother Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty

scubachick.....................husband OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin Doug from Upland............soninlaw Himyar....................................son boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend deadhead.............................cousin JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son painter...................................nephew ProudAFDad...................................son Misty4jc................................husband Bykrbayb........................................son Hope and Glory.........................son ak_daddoo..............................nephew SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree................2 grandsons Walkenfree.................. 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter ariamne.........................2 cousins Zechariah_8_13.......brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law nelibeli...................................nephew Skimask.....................................son El Gato...............................nephew Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson gonzo.........................friend's son Socratic.............................nephew jkphoto...............................nephew

[Billie]

No, that sounds like a terrific idea! (Mine would probably eat the bandana, but he's not much into accessories!) LOL

[Billie]

but what about red bandanna for all those that walk the dogs? You know, like a scarf around the neck? Or a red collar?

Pinging a few dog lovers to wear red on Fridays, too (See Post #1 re Red Friday for the Troops!)

[Billie]

Am leaving a little 'buffet' for all - have to check out now. Enjoy the weekend - will be back - need to work on Tuesday's Flag Day post.

A thought for Tuesday, June 14 Flag Day....wouldn't it be neat if everyone who flies a flag could take a picture of *their* flag and post it here on Tuesday's thread?! Will mention it again Sunday or Monday. I'll use my flagpole for the pledge graphic.

[Allegra]

You will soon see a lot of people wearing Red on Fridays. Here's why..... The Americans, who support our troops, are the silent majority. We are not "organized" to reflect who we are, or to reflect what our opinions are.

This is a great idea! I'll pass this idea around to my co-workers and then we'll tell the troops here about it so they can see us all wearing red on Fridays and they'll know what it means.