USO Canteen FReeper Style....Monday Mail Call.... July 15,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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If you know a Veteran, someone in your family,
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank them.
Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.

We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper Style,
are thankful for every service member
in our military, who has served our great nation.

So, to the men and women who answered the call,
in both times of war and peace, thank you.

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Message from Snow Bunny to all those who visit the Canteen.

This is how I think of the USO Canteen Freeper Style.
It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night.

Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too.
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of place
that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, a library, etc.

Many Veterans have written to me,
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they served.

This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy
and sometimes troubling world.
Make yourself at home...............................................................................................................................................................................

Our troops need our support and encouragement. They are away from home, some for the first time, and usually lonely or discouraged. It is important for us to reach out and help them in the same way we would want someone to reach out to our loved ones if and when they are in the same position.

They answered their call and we are answering theirs offering them the USO Canteen FReeper Style each day and thanking them for serving.

This is IN Coming Mail from some of those serving now.

We at the USO Canteen FReeper Style, a running thread at Free Republic, are proud to support our Military. The mail comes in from contacting some of our Military Bases, Marine Corps Leagues , and friends and family of those serving now. Also from responses at the wonderful P.O.Box that 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub has made so easily available to each of us here at Free Republic.

They are writing to those that frequent the FReeper USO Canteen to thank you for your support.

ALL the mail posted on Monday Mail Call is Recent Mail from the prior week.

Dear Canteen Troops,
Snow Bunny thank you! ALL at the Freeper USO Canteen
Thank You ! Your support of us sure brightens our day here.
My Grandfather is a FReeper and when Grandpa talks we
Listen. LOL. He wrote me that if I ever feel down and that
while serving there would be times like that, to send him an
Email . Well Grandpa got the email and he gave me a Rx .

“Take one dose of the USO Canteen Freeper Style and see
how you felt afterward.”

He included the web site and am I ever feeling better. Grandpa
served in Vietnam, then came back and has been the doc here
where I grew up.
I want to thank each of you at the Canteen for your enthusiastic
support and for making my time serving be more up days then down.
You are all the best!
Jeff
US Navy

Dear Snow Bunny,
I am writing to tell you the biggest thank you possible.
The Canteen you and all those awesome freepers have
created each day is my home.

I grew up in foster homes one after the other all my life,
and then as soon as I was out of highschool I enlisted.
I knew it was the right thing for me.
You see the one constant thing in my life has been my love
for my country. I want to protect her and guard the freedoms she
has for me. I love history and read everything I could about why we are free, why we have liberty and our founding fathers. How all our wars
were to keep us free and they Were !

I want to be a part of why you and the Canteers and myself are STILL
free .How can I live the rest of my life in a land where I have not
done my part to help.

Thank you for being my home, more of a home then I have ever had. I know all your names there . You have all made me laugh so hard when I
really needed it.

Freeper Friday is one of my favorite days . I also really like Themelesss Thursday, it is so clever how you do that Samwolf.

Souris, Light Speed, Victoria Delsoul, MistyCA, SpookBrat , AntiJen,Joe Brower, Coteblanche, DoughtyOne, everyone ( !!) I know you take the time to find the things you share and put things together and it means an awful lot to me.

I feel like the bad boys are my brothers that are always up to something, pushing the card to see how much they can get away with teasing the girls and keeping them on their toes. Your 666 is such a hilarious, who will it be today. ROTFL

So many things that just really make it a home to me . Snow Bunny, I think one of the reasons it is such a great place is also because everyone there has a heart like yours. You all really do care about us, and you have gathered these fine people in a place the a Great man Jim Robinson has made possible. AWESOME !

Thank you Jim Robinson, what a great man you are. I cannot find the words to thank you for what you have done. FR is a place to gain knowledge and information. Then you added the USO Canteen Freeper Style and gave me a home online. Thank you Sir!

God bless all of you and thank you for more things then I can say.

Scott
US Navy

Snow Bunny,
Do you and the Canteeners know how to throw a party ? I think
you all invented what party is supposed to mean!
This is to EVERYONE that gave us the best NO , the most
outstanding party that we ever saw.How you did this we don’t
know , but you played all the right songs, wore the hottest goodies,
eye candy all of you , ( meant with all respect of course ), and gave
us a day to remember for a very long time !
We had to do some pulling here and a few trades , but believe us it was
worth it !!!! We managed to take turns and we are happy to report it was smooth.

Thank you SpookBrat!!

Victoria Delsoul, Aquamarine,Coteblanche, SAMWolf, MistyCA,
MeeknMing,SpookBrat,SassyMom,Clara Suzanne, Gator Girl , Eastbound,
Kneezles, Tomkow6,Redhead,Mr_Magoo;COB1,LindaSOG,Lodwick,
Radio Astronomer ,Souris,4TheFlag,HiJinx ,Beep , Sir Gawain , Light Speed,
68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub,LadyX,Blackie ,AntiJen .I sure hope we
got all the names, because it was one heck of a party !

MistyCA, 666 took on a whole new meaning with you Patriotic Babe!

Marty is in love with you Souris

Thank you for the best party. You made it happen and we can’t thank you
all enough!

Joe, Marty, Al, and myself,
OK so this is where I have to pay back for opening
my mouth about Marty. LOL.
Victoria if I ever get to New York. I know you are
probably booked till 2004 but
a hot dog at Rockefeller Center just to say hi.
(Just a dream I had, from a scrounger )
A Late Happy Birthday SassyMom!
Scully and the Pirates
US Navy

Dear Snow Bunny
WOW ! Awesome! Great Party!

This was my fourth visit to the Freeper USO Canteen.
GOD Bless all of you! You all have a big fan here and
I love you all!
Thank you for being there when I need you !
Sandy
USMC

Dearest adorable Snow Bunny,
Will you marry me, and will Victoria Marry me and then there is MistyCA and Coteblanche and antiJen and Clara, and that little SpookBrat, Souris, SassyMom,Redhead, ah heck everyone !!!! ( mean the girls ) LOL

Thank you Canteeners the guys too for your constant support for us
You are true patriots in every way!
One of those Snow Bunny hugs she does for each of you girls!
God bless you all !
Trevor
USAF

To all the Canteeners
You make the USO the hottest show on the face of this earth!
I salute each and every one of you !!!
I get to see the Canteen everyday!
Thanks for FReeper Friday and I got to see my home State Colorado
that was such a great day for me. The Liberty meant a lot to me.
I sent the web site to my girl back in Colorado that day and it made
us feel closer! Thanks ! You did a great job, Aquamarine and Bunny and I hate to start to name anyone I might forget. So thank you all around!

Sergio
US Army

Snow Bunny,
First thank you for all you do. Your last email to me helped and I
forwarded it back home.
What a fine group of Americans hang out at FR and the Canteen. I can
keep up with events back home thanks to MeeknMing and his links. Get
the best jokes from Mr_Magoo and Tomkow6 where my sides spilt from
laughing so hard.
I also like the way the Canteen feels like a gift from all of you to us over
here. I guess I should say a gift to all the troops everywhere, because I am
betting many others get to see the Canteen too. I hope they do, it sure lifts
the spirits into soaring !

So thanks for all the work you all do , the work to make us see just how
how much America cares.
I have made the Army my career and I never saw a USO Canteen like you
have there.You and everyone there is first class all the way! God knew we needed people like you and a place like FR and the Canteen.

Steve US Army

Jim Robinson and Snow Bunny
In 1998 I began to read FR, everyday, rain or shine !
We have sent troops off to war, placed them as Peacekeepers
around the world, left them in countries we promised to being
them back home from time and time again, and not once have I seen such support for our military. Not once have I seen a welcome home for our
Nam vets like you and the Canteen have done at FR.

Jim Robinson is a personal hero of mine for many reasons !
But when he started the USO Canteen Freeper Style he made
my heart burst with pride in being a Freeper. A lurker yes, but
my heart is ALL FReeper.

I am a disabled vet, and wish I could donate to FR. Unfortunately
my support cannot be financial , but if I could I would pay each day
to keep FR up and running.

Jim Robinson , as a veteran you know how a guy feels away from home.
You know how important the USO has been in many of our lives when we
were serving and needed the USO kind of support. Not many men can
say they came up with one good idea in their life that took place and you
sir have now had TWO. FR and now the Freeper USO Canteen!

Thank you Snow Bunny and all the Canteeners for making this idea of
Jim Robinson’s come into being each day.
You make my days brighter in so many ways.
Andy
USMC
Vietnam Veteran and Free Republic Lurker since 1998

Dear Mr. Robinson and Bunny
Thank you for Freeper Friday, Saturday Liberty and all the days
at the Canteen. My family and I do not discuss politics nor our
military. Let me put it this way, my family would be the ones on
the other side of the street where Jim Robinson has his Fresno
Rally’s every Friday night.

When I enlisted it was shall we say the last straw for them, but it is
OK. When I found out about the USO Freeper Canteen at FR it took
the deep hurt and shelved it better then anything else.

You see I love my country and no matter what I have a need in my guts
to defend it . When I get computer time you all there are my life support
to how I am hoping all of America feels about us. You have all made a
difference in my life more then I can write here.

Thank you for your hard work each day , ALL OF YOU ! And for the
Fresno Rally every Friday night.

God be with you and your families.
Glenn
USNavy

Canteeners make my day!
Roses for the ladies and a tall cool one for the guys. Thank you !

Liberty to California and that Beach party is one that should be
in the USO History books!

Luis
US Army

Dear Snow ,
I am from San Diego and have been in the Marines since one year before 911 happened.
I think you and the Canteeners would be there if there was only one of
us out here. Honest , I don’t think I ever met anyone like you guys in
my whole life .
Thank you for your support. I am dedicated to our country and you make up
my homeland. So count on me to not let you down. You sure don’t let
me down in your tremendous support each day. Thank you all.

B. K.
USMC

Jim Robinson, Snow Bunny ,Coteblanche and Just Amy,

We all get news from back home and sometimes it isn’t good. I know about those that are against this war and it sickens me and hurts inside. But they are just a handful of people and I know it too.
When I come to FR and see the Freeper USO Canteen as you nicknamed it, and the Fresno Rally’s. Well, let’s put it this way, I have only cried a few
times in my life. Once when my dog died , and the other time when my brother was very sick. But when I saw the support at FR from the Canteen and the Fresno freepers too that was the third time. Tears of happiness I promise you.

Thank you all you Freepers and Jim Robinson and your cute helper JustAmy,Snow Bunny and all the Canteeners. I wish I could write better,just to let you know how much the Canteen and support means to me.

You all can take a guys heart, get him laughing then turn me in another
direction and have me with a lump in my throat. The way you are all so
friendly at the Canteen in such a sincere way, and the obvious love you have for each other and for all of us. Man there is that lump again!

God sent you all into my life and I will fight with all I have to keep you safe.This is something I don’t tell a lot of people. I love to read poetry. When I saw the box to click on for poetry, I clicked on it right away.

Now I read that thread too along with the Canteen every time I get to be
online. Maybe you are surprised to hear that a Marine would like
poetry but it is a great way of expression. I have sent copies of some of the
poems back home to my parents.

Thank you for variety of things your Canteen offers each day. Those jokes
are the best too.That day Mr_Magoo and Tomkow6 had a joke off, I didn’t stop laughing for hours.
My Grandfather was in several battles and I showed him the Canteen too.
He especially liked the ladies and said the dolls as you call them reminded
him of the Pin Ups they had. He had them in his barracks and even one
folded up in his helmet. My Dad fought in Vietnam and he had two girls
pictures with him all the time. He didn’t meet my mom till right after he got
home. The story goes she won him over when she put the two small
pictures he had of girls in the Medal Box with his purple heart.

Thank you for your support of what we are doing.

The Canteen is a place I look forward to coming to. And yes, it is that
Cottage down a road for a weary veteran or a weary in spirit soldier.

Love to you all for your hearts,
Joe
USMC

[JohnHuang2]

Good Monday morning to you, Sir.

[JohnHuang2]

Morning =^)

[SAMWolf]

ROTFLMAO. Especially that last Carlin quote.

Good luck at work to day Tonk.

[Valin]

1685 The Duke of Monmouth is executed in Tower Hill in England.

Every English town has its share of Civil War stories, but for Shepton Mallet, insurrection did not end with the defeat of Charles I and Cromwell's victory in 1645. 30 years later, Shepton Mallet played a key role in supporting the Protestant James, Duke of Monmouth against the new Catholic King, James II.

The death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658 eventually led to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, when Charles II took the throne of England. Initially, his accession was greeted with joy in Shepton, as in the rest of the country. However, the religious problems that had beset the country were far from over, and Charles was known to detest the pro-Parliamentarian presbyterians. He immediately banned all religious meetings other than those held in parish churches, and required the clergy to take an oath of conformance .

However, Charles had no heir to succeed him, and his place was swiftly taken by his brother, James II, who had been king in all but name for some years. James was a strict Catholic, and resolved to be as tough a king as his father, Charles I. However, his claim to the throne was challenged by one of Charles II's illegitimate sons, the Protestant James Scott, Duke of Monmouth .

On June 11th 1685, Monmouth, with a band of 82 supporters, landed at Lyme Regis to the rallying cry of "Monmouth, Monmouth, God save the Protestant religion!" The Duke rode North, gathering an army of discontents, religious fanatics and the poor as he went. As he went, a number of small engagements were fought, which served to boost the confidence of the rebels.
By the time he reached Shepton Mallet twelve days later, his army had grown to well over 3,000 footsoldiers and a large well-armed band of cavalry. The streets of Shepton were brightly decorated, as the handsomely bedecked Monmouth, flanked by Lord Fareham and Lord Grey, rode down the High Street to the cheers of the town. Edward Strode, a local dignitary, (and the son of Colonel William Strode , who led Shepton's Parliamentarian troops in 1642), presented Monmouth with one hundred guineas. The people of Shepton gladly offered food, ale and shelter to his hungry, damp men. Many Sheptonians joined the rebels immediately, eager to rid the country of the hated hard-line Catholic King. The people may have been Parliamentarian just a few years earlier, but their primary loyalty was to their religion, and Shepton was wholeheartedly Protestant.

Monmouth spent the night of June 23 in Longbridge House . There he unveiled his master plan - to take Bristol, the second largest and most important city in the country. He spent the night refining his strategy, and on the morning of June 24, Monmouth's men set out determinedly for Bristol.

Unfortunately for Monmouth, he was being hunted by Lord Feversham and a strong force of Life Guards. They harried him on his way to Bristol, and this allowed time for reinforcements to be sent. Monmouth abandoned his plan, and moved on Bath instead. This was also too well defended, so on June 30, Monmouth returned to Shepton Mallet. By now his bedraggled army was noticeably smaller, whittled down by casualties and desertions. Having failed to achieve anything, they were all but broken.

This time, Shepton Mallet did not welcome the Duke. Sheptonians had already seen Feversham and his men, and were worried about reprisals. His money gone, Monmouth and his rebels simply took what they wanted. Again, Monmouth stayed one night in Longbridge House, and then moved on to Wells.

Four days later, on July 5th, at Sedgemoor, near Bridgwater, Monmouth's peasant army was massacred by the Royal army under John Churchill , later Duke of Marlborough. Monmouth escaped, and fled back to Shepton, where he sought refuge with his friend Edward Strode. He presented Strode with his brace of pistols, and then tried to get to France. Monmouth was caught in Dorset the following day, and was beheaded on Tower Hill a week later.

The King's vengeance was swift and terrible. First he sent Colonel Kirke and a band of cavalry into Somerset. Kirke and his men dragged in anyone suspected of having abetted Monmouth. Those who could ransom themselves were released: those who could not were hanged from inn signs without trial and then quartered. Nobody knows how many died.

At first King James was "well satisfied with proceedings", but he then became concerned that the rich were escaping punishment. He then sent the notorious Judge Jeffreys to the West Country. In what became known as the Bloody Assizes, Jeffreys ordered the hanging of hundreds of suspected rebels. Thirteen Sheptonians were sentenced, although one, John Ashwood, was reprieved. The remaining twelve were publicly hanged and quartered in the Market Square, and the parts of their bodies placed on poles throughout the town. Edward Strode was pardoned, but only after he had made a substantial donation to the King.

By March 10, 1686, James' lust for revenge was slaked, and he granted an amnesty to everyone except Monmouth's officers and a few high-profile rebels. Included in that list were two Sheptonians, John Tucker and Robert Penny.

However, the Monmouth rebellion was the beginning of a long period of prosperity for Shepton Mallet. Wearied by war, rebellion, and religious strife, Shepton became a highly productive centre, and boasted factories, mills, and a rapidly growing population.

Everything you never needed to know about The Duke of Monmouth.

[SAMWolf]

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz talks with U.S. troops at the Bagram air base in Bagram, Afghanistan, Monday, July 15, 2002. (AP Photo/Regan Morris)

Cpl. Brian Shires, far right, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, asks U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, left, a question at the Bagram air base in Bagram, Afghanistan, Monday, July 15, 2002. Wolfowitz thanked the troops for their bravery, skill and courage during a visit to the base, the coalition headquarters for the war in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Regan Morris)

[ohioWfan]

Prayers for Eric and your family ohioWfan. Let us know when he goes to AIT.

Thanks so much for your prayers and blessings!

I will surely let you know when he goes to AIT. He graduates on August 21st, and will head to Ft. Lee VA after that. We don't know any more than that right now.

[SassyMom]

Good Morning, SAM! I'm sooooo glad you had a nice day with Bunny and FG! WOO HOO!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day, friend! (((HUG)))

[Johnny Gage]

Morning everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aomagrat: Wow what a great expose' of the USS St. Louis! She certainly had a long and fulfilling battle career.

Time Out: 09:22
KMG-365

[SassyMom]

Thanks for the news about Eric! He not only is in the U.S. Army he is in the Lord's Army!!!! WOO HOO!!!! Prayers for him and all that he is doing. And prayers for his mom too. ;)

[Jen]

Good morning. How's your day going?

[tomkow6]

You were warned!

[redhead]

Oh, gosh...I love/hate Mail Call. It always makes me cry, but I get thrilled when I read how steadfast and faithful our wonderful troops are. You kids who wrote this week, read this:

I am a grandmother. I have two sons who served in the military, one in the Army and one in the Navy. I have a "step-granddaughter" who is presently serving in Kosovo. I couldn't be prouder of them than I am of each and every one of YOU. You are the utter greatest. You are literally God's GIFT to the world. If people had any idea of the pure patriotism that beats in your hearts, they would be in tears all the time. You have no idea how much your service means to people like me. You will never know how much I love each of you, how proud it makes me to hear from you, to see you in your combat gear in foreign countries on my behalf. You can never know the prayers I pray every day for your safety and your courage. Please. All of you. Come home in one piece. Come home safe. You pray for ME, because I know that your warriors' hearts beat strong and true. I love you. Take care. Darned lump.

[Jen]

Hi Clara. Hope you are having a good day! I have a long list of stuff I must do today, so can't freep the day away. Waaaaaaaaah! I'll pop in and out through the day. Jen

[Aeronaut]

Aeronaut, We have a Code Red Emergency Air Mission for you!!!

Launching the mission!!!

[ohioWfan]

OH, thank you, Sassy!!! Yes, indeed.....he's in the service of the KING of KINGS!

[Valin]

First of all, he is still loving boot camp!

One word...Psychoanlysis...he really should think about it. :-)
Aug. 26 1967, Lackland AFB 0200hrs. "OH MY GOD, what have I gone and done."

[ohioWfan]

LOL! But you survived, and maintained your sense of humor to boot (pun intended)!

[Jen]

LJ, are you being a brat???? Trying out for the Bad Boyz club? hahahahahahaha ;-)

The tires on my bike are still flat. I'll fill you in on the bike riding report after hubby puts air in them so I can fly with the wind in my hair down these Georgia hills! Woo Hoo!

Good morning!! Seen any eagles lately? I hope you have a good camera and can get some pix for us!!

[Jen]

Good morning Johnny. I'm going for a coffee refill. Want some?