FReeper Canteen - Tunes For Our Troops - 5 May 2012

Our Troops Rock!!!! | The Canteen DJ's

[ConorMacNessa]

Welcome To All Who Enter This Canteen, To Our Serving Military, To Our Veterans, To All Military Families, To Our FRiends and To Our Allies!

Missing Man Setting

“The Empty Chair”

By Captain Carroll “Lex” Lefon, USN (ret), on December 21st, 2004

“In the wardroom onboard the aircraft carrier from which I recently debarked was a small, round table, with single chair. No one ever sat there, and the reasons, both for the table being there, and for the fact that the chair was always empty, will tell the reader a little bit about who we are as a culture.The wardroom, of course, is where the officers will dine; morning, noon and evening. It is not only a place to eat – it is also a kind of oasis from the sometimes dreary, often difficult exigencies of the service. A place of social discourse, of momentary relief from the burdens of the day. The only things explicitly forbidden by inviolable tradition in the wardroom are the wearing of a cover or sword by an officer not actually on watch, or conversation which touches upon politics or religion. But aboard ships which observe the custom, another implicit taboo concerns the empty chair: No matter how crowded the room, no matter who is waiting to be seated, that chair is never moved, never taken.

The table is by the main entrance to the wardroom. You will see it when you enter, and you will see it when you leave. It draws your eyes because it is meant to. And because it draws your eyes it draws your thoughts. And though it will be there every day for as long as you are at sea, you will look at it every time and your eyes will momentarily grow distant as you think for a moment. As you quietly give thanks.

As you remember.

The small, round table is covered with a white linen tablecloth. A single place setting rests there, of fine bone china. A wineglass stands upon the table, inverted, empty. On the dinner plate is a pinch of salt. On the bread plate is a slice of lemon. Besides the plate lies a bible. There is a small vase with a single red rose upon the table. Around the vase is wound a yellow ribbon. There is the empty chair.

We will remember because over the course of our careers, we will have had the opportunity to enjoy many a formal evening of dinner and dancing in the fine company of those with whom we have the honor to serve, and their lovely ladies. And as the night wears on, our faces will in time become flushed with pleasure of each other’s company, with the exertions on the dance floor, with the effects of our libations. But while the feast is still at its best, order will be called to the room – we will be asked to raise our glasses to the empty table, and we will be asked to remember:

The table is round to show our everlasting concern for those who are missing. The single setting reminds us that every one of them went to their fates alone, that every life was unique.

The tablecloth is white symbolizing the purity of their motives when they answered the call to duty.

The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones who kept the faith.

The yellow ribbon around the vase symbolizes our continued determination to remember them.

The slice of lemon reminds us of the bitterness of their fate.
The salt symbolizes the tears shed by those who loved them.
The bible represents the faith that sustained them.
The glass is inverted — they cannot share in the toast.
The chair is empty — they are not here. They are missing.

And we will remember, and we will raise our glasses to those who went before us, and who gave all that they had for us. And a part of the flush in our faces will pale as we remember that nothing worth having ever came without a cost. We will remember that many of our brothers and sisters have paid that cost in blood. We will remember that the reckoning is not over.

We many of us will settle with our families into our holiday season, our Christmas season for those who celebrate it, content in our fortune and prosperity. We will meet old friends with smiles and laughter. We will meet our members of our family with hugs. We will eat well, and exchange gifts and raise our glasses to the year passed in gratitude, and to the year to come with hope. We will sleep the sleep of the protected, secure in our homes, secure in our homeland.

But for many families, there will be an empty chair at the table this year. A place that is not filled.

We should remember.”

Thanks To Alfa6 For The Narrative Of “The Empty Chair.”

Schumann - Traumerei
(Click)

Never Forget Those Who Sacrificed All That We Could Live In Freedom!!

Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[NYTexan]

ROTFLMAO! That’s just right sized!!! TY

[BIGLOOK]

I'm late again!

Aloha Connie!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...how is the back doing today?

So busy today, but with good progress....I’m wiped out.

[AZamericonnie]

~~Tunes For The Troops~~

 

Spin Doctors - Little Miss Can't Be Wrong

Thanks for the request JJ!

Want more information about the artists we play? Perhaps you'd like to buy concert tickets or their CDs? Click the links provided at the top of the thread for more information!

[Publius]

The third album for Eddie Rabbitt in 1977, simply titled “Rabbitt”, teamed him with co-writer Evan Stevens, who would become a fixture in Eddie’s music. Eddie got two single hits from this disk and began making a larger impact. This first song had originally been recorded by Elvis on an album during the Chips Moman era.

”We Can’t Go on Living Like This”

”I Can’t Help Myself”

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Publius...((HUGS))...how is life in the south? Is it getting hot?

[luvie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BB!!
DRINKS, CHIPS AND SALSA ALL AROUND!

[Publius]

It’s hot, but thanks to the drought, it’s dry, so it’s like Arizona heat.

[Publius]

It’s Stinko de Mayo tomorrow!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*

The back is not too bad today - my PT Tech worked on the neck Wednesday - that had been giving me problems. Doing much better now.

We were supposed to work tomorrow but they're having problems loading documents on to the database, so we're off tomorrow. I'm happy with that - have lots of stuff to do around the house - plants to get into the ground, etc.

Do you still have that construction issue on your trek home? Traffic was insane in D.C. this evening - it took me a half hour to get out of the downtown core and an hour and a half to get home. A twenty mile trip - usually 45 minutes or so. I'm now undergoing attitude adjustment with an ancient vine Zinfandel from California. Very intense flavors, and high alcohol. WOOHOO!!!



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[NYTexan]

TY my darlin’ Lil sis...can hardly wait till we get to party together again!!!

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks!

[luvie]

I am so ready for that, dear BB! ((((LBH))))

Only 5 more months...exactly! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Howdy, howdy, Sand...((HUGS))...is it getting hot yet in your neighborhood?

“They” told us that today would be snow and rain showers and 50 degrees. Hmmm...

[Jet Jaguar]

And thanks to you as well Drumbo!

[ConorMacNessa]

AMERICA – LAND OF THE FREE . . .

BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!!!

Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

I am off for home...be back shortly.

[luvie]

So it is...I’d rather be celebrating NYT’s birthday instead. :)

Hope you have a great weekend, Maestro!

[Drumbo]

So Weak, So Strong
~ Gov't Mule ~

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