FReeper Canteen - Liberty Call - 15 Oct. 2016

Our Troops Rock! | Canteen Crew & DJ's

[AZamericonnie]

OMG!!!! ROFL!

Best response EVER!!!!

Yet sooo breed appropriate!

[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 gold 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 gold 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."

Many Thanks To Alfa6 For Finding Capt. Lefon's Chronicle Of "The Empty Chair."

"Träumerei"
Robert Schumann
(Click)

Never Forget The Brave Men And Women Who
Gave Their Lives To Secure Our Freedom!!

[luvie]

Excellent!

[Soaring Feather]

Well, Connie....as one ages the miles pile on. LOL

[luvie]

LOVE YOU CANTEEN DJ'S!!!
Thanks for your hard work!

GodBlessUSA; mylife; AZAmericonnie; Kathy In Alaska; Ms.Behavin;trussell; ConorMacNessa;acad1228; LibertyValance; publius; spel_grammer_an_punct_polise; Drumbo (and me)

YOU ROCK OUT LOUD!!
God bless our troops!!!

Thanks for a great thread
and all you do here, Connie!

[left that other site]

Back in 2009 when I first joined FR, I had a 15 year old Border Collie/Jack Russell Girl named Torey-The-Dog. When Tory had to make her final journey, FR was there for me, just like y’all were when I lost my husband, my Dad, my house, my best GF, my career, my Mom, and my health.

You guys have ALWAYS been there for me.

Seriesly.

[AZamericonnie]

What's up your way?

Oh Pro, the temps have cooled down to primarily the 80's during the day. This is the time of year we love. They say we have two seasons in my area...Hot & Not as hot! :)

[Publius]

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

COLE PORTER

PARIS

BILLIE HOLIDAY: “LET’S DO IT, LET’S FALL IN LOVE”

This 1941 recording shows Lady Day backed by Eddie Heywood’s band, which included her mentor, Lester Young, on tenor sax. This is a legendary performance.

Billie Holiday: “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love”

[SandRat]

http://www.kvoa.com/story/29020572/d-m-and-fort-huachuca-increase-security

ARIZONA

TUCSON – Military installations, including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca, are increasing security because of an increased terrorism threat.

All Department of Defense facilities are at “Force Protection Bravo” for the first time in about 4 years. The increased threat level is not related to any specific danger, according to DoD officials.

Southern Arizona Congresswoman Martha McSally just returned from the Middle East where she learned more about the war against ISIS.

“Their intent is certainly not to just set up a territory and stay there, right? They want to set up a caliphate. They want to continue to have it grow. They want these governments in the Middle East to collapse,” McSally said. “And they certainly want to then attack us and our way of life.”

McSally said Americans acting on their own are the greatest terrorism threats, but citizens who have traveled to Iraq or Syria can also be dangerous.

“They can just come in through the airport and they’re here in America after they have been sort of trained on the battlefield,” McSally said.

Raytheon Missile Systems is also increasing security on its properties. Public Relations Director John Patterson emailed a statement.

“In alignment with U.S. government direction, Raytheon Missile Systems has implemented enhanced security measures at its Tucson operations,” Patterson wrote. “Employee safety is our top priority. We will remain at this increased security level until further notice.”

A representative at Davis-Monthan was not able to disclose the specific security changes, but entering the installation may take longer than usual.

[Publius]

Being somewhat absent minded, I always called them Jack Daniels Terriers.

[AZamericonnie]

as one ages the miles pile on Start walking around the living room backwards Miss F! :)

[left that other site]

Torey was a “Jack Border Terrorist”.

Lynn-Dah is a much more civilized “Chowbrador”.

[luvie]

USAF Concert Band~Armed Forces Medley

WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!



Navy Midshipmen Having Some Fun!
YouTube Video

[AZamericonnie]

And always will be...Cereal! *Hugs*

[AZamericonnie]

Sooo....good evening Lil' Miss finally gonna retire! :)

Can I get in on your employee discount real quick like? LOL *Hugs(*

[Soaring Feather]

Oh yeah, LOL!

[ConorMacNessa]

Our present situation is worse than any I have seen in my lifetime - compounded by the out-and-out treason of many of those who are supposed to keep our Nation's freedom and security as their overriding imperatives.

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[left that other site]

This is HUGH!

[AZamericonnie]

So....no one is going to answer the riddle?

[AZamericonnie]

And SERIES!