A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day 8-02-02

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute
and support our military and our leaders; tell a few jokes; learn a new
word; write poetry; pray for those in need; and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands
of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE: T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM: YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP: Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet

MIDDLE: 4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga

BOTTOM: Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP: mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette

MIDDLE: Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid

BOTTOM: gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP: porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP

MIDDLE: RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian

BOTTOM: USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

TOP: spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68

MIDDLE: FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM: usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

TOP: g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett

MIDDLE: fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17

BOTTOM: Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau

TOP: ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,

dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony

BOTTOM: rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx

MIDDLE: The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law

BOTTOM: deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog

MIDDLE: Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son

BOTTOM: JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

"ONE OF FR'S FINEST"

Alas Babylon!
FReeper since 10-27-98

Alas Babylon! retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1998 after having served for 22 "proud" years as a communications and computer specialist. He retired with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant (E-8).
During his military career, he received many awards and decorations including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Service Medal (Bosnia/Herzogovina), and the Nation Defense Service Medal. In 1992 he won both the Air Force Intelligence Command's and HQ USAF's Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Systems (C4) Professionalism Awards. Wow!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE Alas Babylon!

His military service alone qualifies him as One of FR's Finest. But we do have other things to tell you about Alas Babylon!

Alas Babylon! posts and hosts the Sunday Talk Show Thread on the FR Forum. He took over the thread a couple of years ago and has rarely missed posting it each weekend since then. It is fun and informative and a must read for all of us talk-show junkies. Check it out some Sunday. Here is a link to last week's thread... Sunday Talk Show Thread

Veterans for Constitutional Restoration

Alas Babylon! is pleased to serve on the Board of VCR. link here VCR is the brainchild of FReeper "dcwusmc" and its Board of Directors includes Jim Robinson and several other FReepers. The first meeting of VCR was held online on December 16, 2001

The goals of the organization are simple: an ongoing educational outreach program that will explain to and teach the people about our republican form of government, how government has over-reached and extended itself beyond its mandated limits, and what needs to be done to push government, particularly the federal government, back inside its constitutional box, and to limit it to ONLY those powers and duties specifically granted to it by the Constitution.

"Let's Get Personal"

Alas Babylon! and his beautiful family live in Alabama where he is the Lead Networking and Operating Systems Instructor at Auburn University.

Alas Babylon! Thank You for Your Service to Our Country.
Enjoy your day in the Spotlight as One of FR's Finest.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

7-29-02 Doug from Upland
7-30-02 Name that Freeper
7-31-02 CounterCounterCulture
8-01-02 ofMagog

If at first you don't succeed, it is always better the second time.

Congratulations!

SOME GOOD IDEAS

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

When you say, "I love you", mean it.

When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

Believe in love at first sight.

Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
People who don't have dreams don't have much.

Love deeply and passionately.
You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

Don't judge people by their relatives.

Talk slowly but think quickly.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask,
"Why do you want to know?"

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

Drink less soda, beer, and coffee, and drink more water, milk, and orange juice.

Smile when answering the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice

PERSPECTIVE

There are two ways to look at every situation in life:

Is the cup half empty

Or is the cup half full?

It is amazing how our perception can be changed by our attitude.

For example,
think about God and then look at these letters.

N-O-W-H-E-R-E

You can assume that God is

NO WHERE.

Or you can believe that God is

NOW HERE!

Follow this advice and you can improve your life:

Always remember that you are loved,
even when it doesn't seem like it.

Believe in yourself and your values.
Don't sell out when things go wrong.

Don't let anything get you down;
always bounce back up.

Set goals for your future
and never settle for anything less.

Realize that there are others in the world
with much bigger problems than you.

Appreciate the good things in your life,
and be thankful for the time you have with your loved ones.

Spend more time with your family and friends.

Appreciate the simple things in life,
and don't get caught up in material things.

If you follow that advice you can't go wrong!

So the next time you're looking at a situation in your life:

Is the cup half empty?

Or is the cup half full?

Be an optimist and see the cup as being half full.
Before long, your attitude will rub off on others.
You can make the world a better place
by simply making yourself a happier person.

If you see someone without a smile,
give them one of yours.

Yesterday we got this postcard from Eric. On the back of it he said, "....we just shot our M16's in our protective masks, and this is what we looked like! Cool, eh? And, of course, I am BAD to the BONE!"

Eric's in Blue Phase now, the final phase of Basic Training, with only 3 weeks to go before graduation. (THANK YOU LORD!!!)

He is still loving it! In the next 3 weeks he will work with grenades and rocket launchers, go on bivouac, and go on 10k and 15k marches in full gear.

He passed his M16 marksmanship test on the first try, though he wanted to score higher (he doesn't want anybody to do better than he!).

He's enjoying being in the PT stud room with only 4 guys and says he sleeps better there.......wonder why? He still thinks the food is good, and is getting more homesick, but says that knowing that he'll see us in three weeks makes it OK. He's also still involved in Bible studies with some of the guys, and was going through Romans with a 27 year old friend who hadn't read a Bible since he was a kid.

I know that you'll forgive my pride when I say.....God is going to use this young man in a mighty way! He is so thrilled to be where God wants him to be, and would like continued prayer for protection against the language and sexual jokes, for the guys he's sharing Christ with, and for him to be used by God in the next few weeks.

Thank you for your prayers!!! You are faithful friends, and I thank God for each of you!!

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