USO Canteen FReeper Style....Childrens Art to our Troops....July 23,2002

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.

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Children's Art at the Canteen

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SPRINGFIELD, Va. (AFPN) -- With a pencil, pen and marker, Daniela McCain, third-grade daughter of Tech. Sgt. Christopher and Pamela McCain, from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., drew herself a first-place entry in the Air Force category of the Armed Services YMCA Art Contest 2002

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[Mr_Magoo]

When you wake up, will you tell this puzzled FReeper:

~ You keep posting the same graphics, day after day after day. I've sampled it a few times, and it invariably takes five minutes to load. If it's a permanent welcome to veterans, couldn't you save some bandwidth and space for Jim Robinson by directing newcomers to add on to an existing thread? Updated, say, once per week?

====>With a screen name such as yours, I can assume that years have given you wisdom. Think back to WW2 or to what you learned in schools and movies of the WW2 era. The USO played a big role in the war effort by providing morale boosting efforts for the troops. One of those efforts was to open Canteens across the Country where servicemen and women could escape from the war for a few hours. A place where they could dance, socialize, and forget. A touch of home. A connection back to what America stands for.

These threads operate the same way with the blessings of Jim Robinson AND the blessings of the USO National Charter. Most deployed troops have either direct Internet access time rationed to them, or know someone who does. These threads can be read and printed out by them to share with others stationed with them. A new thread is started each day so they do not get to long for our troops to print out and post for others to read. On some ships deployed NOW fighting terrorism, the threads are printed out and posted where ALL can see them. They remind our deployed Forces of what they are fighting for. They remind them that there are many here at home that are proud of them and support them NO MATTER WHAT.

~ What on earth would be part of such a thread that would be coming from an encrypted FEMA Website with its own security certificate? One that is missing an accurate internal name, for that matter? Such a security alert is a red flag, to me, from long experience. Again, this may be a threat to Jim Robinson's efforts.

====>Apparently one of the graphics used in the opening of today's thread was linked from FEMA. I am not sure which one it was. Graphics are linked from many different sites every day. They do play an important role in these daily threads. All the cartoon dolls are a reminder of nose art and pinup art that was common in previous wars. They serve the same purpose here in this war effort.

~ Beyond all this, doesn't this entire enterprise far better belong in General Interest, rather than News/Activism? Do Jim's distinctions mean anything?

====>This does fit as News/Activism, specifically as Activism. Each day we actively support the Brave Men and Women who are fighting to defend our FReedom.

I suppose I am perplexed by just what kind of virtual-edifice complex is going on here. (Seeing, on this go-round, an 8th-grade kid asking a soldier to "kill Osama bin Laden for me" -- the loss of innocence is the dismaying cherry on the cake, really.)

====>Here in a way I do agree with you. The loss of innocence is dismaying. However I am constantly reminded that the loss of innocence was caused by a madman ordering 4 commercial aircraft to crash into the World Trade Center and the pentagon, killing thousands if innocent Americans. In a way it is comforting to know that even children understand that pure evil must be not only confronted but destroyed.

Perhaps other can better explain the concept of the Canteen and our daily efforts to support, entertain, and connect with our Troops. But no matter what, I do wish you a delightful day filled with God's blessings.

[Jen]

There is sweet young lady inside of this Hackmistress

Yes, there is! Good to see and hear your smack chat this morning, Seven! hehehehehe You always put a smile on my face when you show up. Jen

[BringingUpPatriots]

More hugs for you, Jen!!!! :D
BUPPY

[Jen]

Hi Buppy, you awesome Commie Slayer!!! (I just love saying that. hehehehehe)

Glad you survived VBS! You are a far braver and stronger woman than me! I assisted once and those kids wore me out!!!

Coffee coming up FRiend! Hope it's strong enough for you.

[MistyCA]

This is absolutely the best! I love children's art so much, and to see their sentiment towards the troops and the USA is wonderful! Thank you so much Bunny! And Cote, you have added such a special dimension to the Canteen! Thank you!!!

[Jen]

Very well said, Mr Magoo! {{{{HUGS}}}} for you! Good morning, my FRiend. Jen

[BringingUpPatriots]

How did you get that graphic of me? Do you have a camera in my house somewhere? ;)

I did Arts and Crafts and we had small kids all the way up to adults. Adults in arts and crafts class are actually very entertaining, sometimes moreso than the babies.

I bought Ann Coulter's Slander last night but had to order a new one this morning since someone carved a swastika on the cover. I just grabbed it not noticing it (it was buried in the back of the store). Grrrr.

Thanks for the coffee!
BUPPY the Commie Slaa yayayayaayaaayerrrrr

[lodwick]

Good job @ 161 Magoo. Thanks.

Two additional thoughts: Going to your personal preferences and reducing the number of posts shown at one time down to 10 - 20 or even fewer, will speed up the loading, and after you read past whatever number is shown for the first time, the splash page is not displayed with the rest of the thread.

I hope this helps speed things up. JL

[BringingUpPatriots]

Hi MistyCA!

Hope all is well with you!

BUPPY

[MistyCA]

I am so sorry you are sick! I hope you are feeling better real soon. Thank you for the posts you do! As always, they are very special and add so much to the Canteen! :))))))

[Mr_Magoo]

Good Morning Jen. Now that my rant is over, I can enjoy my coffee and catching up on the thread.

((((HUGS)))) backatcha

[Mr_Magoo]

Be sure to let us know when you begin to start to get ready to . . .

hehehehe

[MistyCA]

...I think!

It is obvious that you have not checked in very often since if you had, you would recognize that the OLD Canteen use to use the very same opening everyday.....it has changed and is new and different every single day! That is partially what has drawn so many of us to it.

You are welcome to come and hang out with us and see what we are all about....or lurk. The Canteen speaks for itself. If it is not "your thing" then there are plenty of other places for you to go on this forum or others.

[SassyMom]

Good Morning, Tonk! I hope that you have a WONDERFUL day today. How is your new job going????? (((((HUG)))))