FReeper Canteen ~ Independence Day ~ July 4, 1776 ~ 04 July 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

The FReeper Canteen Presents...

~ Independence Day ~ July 4, 1776 ~

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Star Spangled Banner

US Army

US Marine Corp

US Navy

US Air Force

US Coast Guard

God Bless The USA

American Patrol

The Liberty Bell

I Pledge My Allegiance

Stars & Stripes Forever

My Country Tis of Thee

The FReeper Canteen Presents...

~ Independence Day ~ July 4, 1776 ~

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Star Spangled Banner

US Army

US Marine Corp

US Navy

US Air Force

US Coast Guard

God Bless The USA

American Patrol

The Liberty Bell

I Pledge My Allegiance

Stars & Stripes Forever

My Country Tis of Thee

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy "Return to the World" day, CVV!!

[AZamericonnie]

Oh good gads Janie.....I can’t see a one of them & I know they have what it takes! LOL

How’s flights Janie? *Hugs*

[fatima]

Happy 4th Kathy and everybody.Have a whole bunch of family coming over tom.Baby G is our newest baby and he just turned 9 months.he likes to smile :)His father is in Ohio working on the grid to get the power back.Been gone since Early Saturday.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

A jukebox of patriotic songs for "Independence Day" as a salute to the TROOPS.

[luvie]

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!

Lee Greenwood~Proud To Be An American (YouTube)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mac...*HUGS*...hope you are feeling a bit better.
Did you get a fan for upstairs and maybe get some good rest?

[luvie]

Beautiful thread, Kathy!
Thanks for your hard work and Happy...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Hawaii...((HUGS))...festivities for the 4th?

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks very much, Kathy!

*HUGS*

Thank you so much for posting this Independence Day ~ July 4, 1776 thread!

While I was at work today I ventured into FR a couple of times - I was disheartened by some of the things I saw. A Vanity by Workerbee "Has the Fourth of July Been Hijacked?" drew some of the most negative, defeatist posts I have seen on this form. I responded, of course, and was glad to see several responses from real Americans.

I think it's great that you dated this thread July 4, 1776 - That's where we are today. Defeatism is not the course to take - Our Forefathers risked everything, their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor," in pursuit of that Great Triad of Rights - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - that has energized generations of Americans ever since.

The path before them was perilous as ours is now - but we must not let this great Nation sink into the sewer of socialism. Never forget the heroic example of patriots like George Washington, Nathan Hale, John Paul Jones, Francis Marion and many others. God save the United States of America!



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)

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

God Bless Our Republic

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Prayers going up

[AZamericonnie]

Always great to see you as well Conor.

Stuffed salmon sounds delish...wish my family enjoyed it as much as I do.

Sonboy has to work & it's to darn hot here to go out. Not to mention it's supposed to storm tomorrow.

Going to cook some ribs & throw them over charcoals to finish.

Some Boston Pop's on the TV to round out the evening.

I'm sorry your not feeling well & hope some rest does the trick!

[HopeandGlory]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, AZ, and thanks for the red, white, and blue tribute.

Did you have a good commute? Not too much traffic? Critters stay out of your way? *HUGS*

[SandRat]

Hurray!!!!!

[luvie]

Amen, Conor! Amen......

(((hugs)))...and howdy! :)

[ConorMacNessa]

Young John-Man has let me use his fan - will probably get another one soon. I slept well last night but woke up today with sharply increased pain - lower back and left hip.

I have no idea what the cause is, unless another disc is failing. My mobility was seriously impaired today all day. I nearly left early but managed to hang in until the end of the day. Off tomorrow - will sleep in. I have a couple of errands to run - will do them early and get in before the heat of the day set in.



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)

[SkyDancer]

Hi AZ! Not doing too many. Ground school going well. Big 4th. thing tonight at the local pub. R/Janey

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Luv!

*HUGS*

I hope you and yours have a great Independence Day! Thanks very much to your son for his stalwart service on behalf of our Nation!



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)

[luvie]

Good music there! Thanks for sharing the link with us!

[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)