FReeper Canteen ~ Just Hangin' Cafe ~ 29 July 2016

July 28, 2016 | Canteen Crew

[beachn4fun]

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale
of our military and our allied military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

FReeper Canteen

Come on in, we're open
Need a place just to hang out?
This is it.

We serve coffee,
tea,
or maybe a tall brew?

Topped off with great conversation
and music.

No worries in the FReeper Canteen
Just Hangin' Cafe.
Grab a glass and start a conversation.

You never know who you might meet in the Cafe.
Glad you could join us.
Enjoy your stay.

Our AWESOME military,
our AWESOME allies,
and their families are welcomed
and honored here.

Remember, the Canteen is a family friendly place.
We exist for sole purpose of supporting the military, our allies, and their families.
Continued prayers for the success and completion of your mission.
Prayers for your safe return home.

[beachn4fun]

Good evening du ((HUGS))
Did you get rain?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[henkster]

Wow. 102. No tennis for you tonight!

[beachn4fun]

Good evening Ma ((HUGS))
How's the new, new office working out?
Did your sister arrive?

[beachn4fun]

Good evening Mayor ((HUGS))
As always, thanks for reminding us of
the GOOD WORD

[beachn4fun]

My day went well, thanks.

Now, I’m enjoying the sounds of a thunderstorm, although our old pup doesn’t like it much.

[beachn4fun]

Good evening ML ((HUGS))
Are you feeling better?

[ConorMacNessa]

We've had a fair amount of rain here this evening - but nothing intense so far. Another line coming through in a few minutes.

"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."

[henkster]

Hi beachy! We’d love some rain. Haven’t had any for over a week, or so I hear as I was gone last week. So far, every day this week the weather forecast has been”cooler tomorrow, high in the mid 80s.” But when “tomorrow” becomes today it’s around 90 and high humidity.

But they say tomorrow will not be as hot as today....

[radu]

Howdy, PRO!

OUCH!! 102 degrees?

Guess you don't want to hear about our wonderfully cool 75 degrees today, huh? LOL

[beachn4fun]

It was raining very hard but is now a steady rain.

My plants are going to love it.

[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!!

[PROCON]

Henk, the only indoor exercise I'm doing tonight is the right-arm elbow bend with a cold beer bottle as a counter-weight.

1-2-1-2-1-2...Repeat

[SandRat]

When we have a storm kike that Carliwe “Hides under our arms or under then blanket in his kennel.

[Kathy in Alaska]

My sister DID arrive last Tuesday night and I take her to the airport later this evening. She’s ready to get back to her hubby and doggie (he is NOT pleased when she leaves), but has been a big help.

She will probably be coming back every 3 months or so.

The new space is very small, but we have walls, so it’s mine. It helps with the phone calls.

((HUGS))

Have fun with your next week visitors.

[beachn4fun]

Good evening henky ((HUGS))
LOL. They said same thing here,
and although it was 80s starting off today
we got to 90 I think. We hadn't had a good rain in over 2 weeks.
I was ready to try a rain dance. hehe
How was your trip?

[PROCON]

Hey radu, yeah, thank you Mr. Carrier for your great, cool Air Conditioner invention!

Cooled down, huh?

Any rain?

[henkster]

Ahhh...then you know my two favorite kinds of beer.

Cold and yours.

[beachn4fun]

Our old pup usually tries to stay close to us. Tonight she’s hanging beside Eada, the pup, who is now bigger than her.

[radu]

Yay!! Glad to see you’re getting a little cool down, too. ‘Bout time, isn’t it? This summer has dragged on too long.

Sorry to hear about your former SIL’s partner. Guess it’s not a trip you’re looking forward to.