FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Sgt. Alvin C. York ~ July 2, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

A New Day
July 2, 2012

In a morning meeting I recently attended, the person who opened the gathering began by praying, “Lord, thanks for today. It is the beginning of a new day we have never seen before.” Although the idea seemed obvious, that prayer got me thinking about a couple of different things. First, because each day is a new opportunity, it will be filled with things we cannot anticipate or even prepare for. Therefore, it’s important that we recognize our limitations and lean heavily on God—intentionally choosing to live in His grace and strength rather than relying on our own resources.

The second thing that occurred to me is that the newness of each day is a gift worth celebrating. Perhaps this concept was what prompted the psalmist to declare, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).

Of course, we face many unknowns today—and some could be difficult. But the treasure of each brand-new day is so special that Moses was led to write, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (90:12). Every new day is a precious gift. May we thankfully embrace each one with confident trust and humble celebration.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest. —Berg

Each new day gives us new reasons to praise the Lord.

Read: Psalm 118:19-29

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. —Psalm 118:24

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 115-118

[ConorMacNessa]

REST IN PEACE, FALLEN BROTHER!

LCpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, USMC, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, 23Jun2012




I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Rest in Peace, fallen brother, rest in peace!
We who remain hold you in high honor.
Rest, fallen brother, in this sacred precinct;
We who remain keep this place sacred.
Rest, fallen brother, among these, your comrades;
We who remain keep the watch.
Rest, fallen brother, amid these who heeded the Nation’s call;
We who remain press the fight forward in your name.
Rest, fallen brother, lay down thy burden;
We who remain have taken up the torch.
Rest in Peace, fallen brother, rest in eternal peace!



Taps

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

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)

[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!!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

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)

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND OUR BELOVED NATION!


TATTOO
(Click)

Must retire – the 0500 Reveille approaches relentlessly.

The Bugler, his grim visage replete with an evil sneer, already mounts the parapet.

Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes!

---

Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

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)

[BIGLOOK]

Honoring Our Fallen

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mission accomplished!

Barricades are now fully backed and parallel to the yards. Tomorrow will see the street closed again, so my tonight job is fill all the water containers, just in case.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well. Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present. Thank you for your service to our country.

[OKSooner]

Sergeant York was possibly the best war movie ever made.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Hawaii...((HUGS))...any good news today?

Any sun? Time with the little wahines and son?

Any of your mainland folks involved in the storms and power outages?

[NormsRevenge]

Bless All those who served and serve today as they have answered the call to duty and sacrifice.

A Happy and Safe 4th of July to the Canteen Crew!

Thanks for all you Folks do!!

[luvie]

Nite, Conor! See ya in the morning! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Norm...are you in a safe place from all the fires?
Just heard on the news that there are LOTS of places banning fireworks this year. They've been banned here for several years.

And we thank you for your service to our country.

[luvie]

Thanks, Galz, for another wonderful war story from one of our more
famous heroes! His is quite the tale of bravery!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

Pfc Steven P Stevens, II, USMC
1st Combat Engineer Battalion,
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force

Eternal Father Strong To Save - click

[Jet Jaguar]

Announcement!

I am back in Alaska!

I arrived today after 11 days on the road from South Carolina.

Good to be back.

JJ

[NormsRevenge]

We’re lucky here in the Bay Area, piddly stuff. The folks in New Mexico and Colorado and IDaho are not so lucky..

Some cities allow fireworks in the area, some don’t.. a lot of good it does..

The Good Old US of A
Still Pluggin’
after all these years
WooHoo!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv....any relief from the heat?

[luvie]

Howdy, Kathy! (((hugs)))

It was actually a bit cooler today and supposed to be for the rest of the week. I hope for once they are accurate! LOL!

No rain in sight, though. :(

[Kathy in Alaska]

Woohoo!! Home again....LOL!!

That’s a LONG drive! Glad you are safely in Alaska.