USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Christmas Stories and Everything Christmas ~ December 11 2002

Original Christmas Stories of Daniel 'Chip' Ciammaichella ^ | 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Featuring the Original Christmas Stories of Daniel 'Chip' Ciammaichella

"I have always believed that miracles happen and dreams come true at Christmas.
My love of Christmas and the spirit of the season is why I write a Christmas story each year
and why I publish those stories, other Christmas stories,
and lots of other Christmas related stuff here, to share with the world.

I hope my Christmas stories and other Christmas content on this web site help you to get
into the Christmas spirit and enjoy the holidays.
Remember that miracles happen and dreams come true at Christmas -
this could be the year that miracle or dream is yours!
Merry Christmas! I hope you keep the spirit of Christmas all year 'round!"

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The USO Canteen Post Office

E-Mail Our Military Direct Links To enter, Click on the Picture Let them know they are not forgotten! Please stop in the USO Canteen Post Office DAILY to E-Mail our Troops.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Please stop in and say hi to our military lurkers.
Post your holiday graphics, jokes, prayers, stories, music, links etc.

Will you take some time to put a smile on a military lurkers face today?

Thank You All for your support of the military, their families and veterans.

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, USS Rendova (CVE-114)

Commencement Bay class escort aircraft carrier
Displacement: 11,373 t.
Length: 557’1”
Beam: 75’
Extreme Width: 105’2”
Draft: 32’
Speed: 19 k.
Complement: 1,066
Armament: 2 5”; 36 40mm

USS RENDOVA (CVE-114), originally assigned the name MOSSER BAY, was laid down by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Wash., 15 June 1944; launched 29 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Anna-Marie H. Kurtz; and commissioned 22 October 1945, Capt. R. W. Ruble in command.

Commissioned too late for service in World War II, RENDOVA completed shakedown in early January 1946, and reported for duty with the 1st Fleet in February. During March, she conducted exercises off the west coast, but in April, her complement was reduced to a maintenance crew. Immobilized at San Diego for a year, she remained on the active list as the administrative headquarters for Carrier Division 15 (CarDiv 15). In the spring of 1947, she returned to full active duty and for the next year conducted training exercises off the west coast and in the Hawaiian Islands

On 1 April 1948, she departed San Francisco en route to Turkey with a cargo of AT-6 training planes for that country's air force. Steaming via the Panama Canal, she arrived at Yesilkoy 28 April, off loaded her cargo, and continued her voyage 4 May. She moved south to Suez, thence crossed the Indian and Pacific Oceans. With numerous good will visits en route, she returned to San Diego 1 July, only to depart again on another mission, this time to Tsingtao, on the 28th. At Tsingtao 23-27 August, she was back in San Diego, her homeport, in late September and through the fall trained on the west coast. With the new year, 1949, she again sailed west; operated between Tsingtao and Okinawa until mid-April; then returned to her homeport and resumed 1st Fleet training operations. In October, she arrived at Bremerton, where, after overhaul, she was decommissioned, 27 January 1950, and berthed with the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Six months later the North Korean Army crossed the 38th Parallel and RENDOVA was ordered activated. Recommissioned 3 January 1951, she reported for duty in April and on 3 July steamed west. She arrived at Yokosuka 2 August; underwent further training off Okinawa, then on 20 September, arrived at Kobe to relieve SICILY (CVE-l18) as aircraft carrier unit under CTG 95.1.

On the 22d, she completed embarking personnel, planes (F4Us), and equipment of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 212. On the 23d, she conducted carrier qualifications for the squadron. On the 24th, she loaded ammunition and supplies at Sasebo and on the 25th, she got underway for operating area "Nan" in the Yellow Sea. There she relieved carrier HMS GLORY (R 62) assuming CTE 95.11, and on the 26th, launched her first close air support sortie. During the next months, she cruised off the west coast of Korea, alternating with carrier HMAS SYDNEY (R 17) as CTE 95.11. VMF-212 recorded 1,743 sorties in support of ROK, U.S. Marine, and EUSAK ground forces; enforcing the U.N. blockade; rendering SAR assistance, and flying armed and photo reconnaissance missions. On 17 November, the ship and the squadron established a new sortie record for CVEs--64.

RENDOVA completed her last support operation 6 December. By the 22d, she was back at San Diego and with the new year, 1952, she resumed west coast training operations with the 1st Fleet. In September, she sailed west again and for 2 months participated in Operation "Ivy"--an atomic test series in the Marshalls, then she returned to California. In commission, in reserve in 1953, she continued her training activities off the west coast, and in 1954 returned to the active fleet and another WestPac deployment, this time as a hunter-killer carrier. Back in California by mid-June, she conducted exercises out of Long Beach until October, then shifted to Mare Island for preinactivation overhaul. She reported to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group, 2 February 1955 and was decommissioned 30 June. Reclassified AKV-14 in 1959, she remained in the Reserve Fleet until struck from the Navy list 1 April 1971.

RENDOVA earned two battle stars for Korean war service.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Good Morning Brother!
Thanks for the daily pics of US Navy ships!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Seasons Greetings to our FReeper military wives.

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Tonk! Good morning, EVERBODY!

Good Morning, TROOPS!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Morning Brother!

[tomkow6]

Today's FEEBLE attempt at humor:

(Compliments of Fish Hawk.......Thank You!)

Be Careful what You ask for!


Two priests died at the same time and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter said, "I'd like to get you guys in now, but our computer's down.
You'll have to go back to Earth for about a week but you can't go back as priests. What'll it be?"

The first priest says, "I've always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky mountains." "So be it," says St. Peter, and off flies the first priest.

The second priest mulls this over for a moment and asks, "Will any of this
week 'count', St. Peter?"

"No, I told you the computer's down. There's no way we can keep track of what you're doing."

"In that case," says the second priest, "I've always wanted to be a stud."

"So be it" says St. Peter, and the second priest disappears.

A week goes by, the computer is fixed, and the Lord tells St. Peter to recall the two priests.

"Will you have any trouble locating them?" He asks.

"The first one should be easy," says St. Peter. "He's somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles. But the second one could prove to be more
difficult."

"Why?" asketh the Lord.

"He's on a snow tire, somewhere in Minnesota.

[tomkow6]

Navy Senior Chief Musician Wayne Taylor (left) and Navy Chief Musician Keith Arneson (right) lend a country and bluegrass flavor to the holiday music performed by the United States Navy Band during its special concert broadcast, "Happy Holidays." Taylor and Arneson are members of the popular Navy Band ensemble "Country Current." The United States Navy Band performs a variety of popular and traditional holiday music during this special concert broadcast originating from Washington, D.C. U.S. Navy photo by Musician 1st Class Steve Hassay.

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy Band and the Naval Media Center will once again join creative forces to present a live broadcast of “Happy Holidays – U.S. Navy Band Holiday Concert 2002,” from Washington, D.C., Sunday, Dec. 22, 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST.

The 90-minute live concert special is offered as a public service to the 7 million subscribers of the Dish Network on channels 227 and 9601.

It will also be broadcast either live or on a tape-delayed basis by cable systems and television stations serving most Navy and Marine Corps communities. Check local listing or on-screen programming guides for details, or visit www.navyband.navy.mil for a complete broadcast schedule.

The program will air overseas via Direct to Sailor Television (TV-DTS) and American Forces Network (AFN) Dec. 25, 7-8:30 a.m.

This year’s concert celebrates the holiday season with traditional music along with jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, country and bluegrass renditions of popular holiday songs – and original compositions written and performed especially for the show by the talented musicians and vocalists of the U.S. Navy Band.

Featured along with the Navy Band are its highly acclaimed ensembles, the Sea Chanters Chorus, Country Current, the Cruisers rock group and the Commodores jazz band.

The U.S. Navy Band is under the direction of Commander Ralph M. Gambone.

Get together with shipmates, family, friends and neighbors to enjoy a Navy holiday musical tradition, “Happy Holidays-The U.S. Navy Band Holiday Concert 2002.”

[tomkow6]

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, (Dec. 7, 2002) -- Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jesus Hernandez of Laredo, Texas salutes the arrival of the official party at the USS Arizona Memorial prior to the Dec. 7th commemoration ceremony, hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii. The solemn ceremony featured Hawaii's senior Senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye as guest speaker. 17 survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and their family members joined nearly 200 guests for the ceremony which included a wreath-laying by all branches of the U.S. military. The Governor of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and more than 20 other veteran's groups were also part of the ceremony. The commemoration marks the 61st anniversary of the attack and honors the men and women who lost their lives that day. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin.

Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Sager, part of the Honor Guard, salutes the official party at the USS Arizona Memorial prior to the commencement of the Dec. 7th commemoration ceremony. The solemn ceremony, hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, featured Hawaii's senior Senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye as guest speaker. 17 survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and their family members joined nearly 200 guests for the ceremony which included a wreath-laying by all branches of the U.S. military. The Governor of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and more than 20 other veteran's groups were also part of the ceremony. The commemoration marks the 61st anniversary of the attack and honors the men and women who lost their lives that day. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Todays transportation for you and the Girlz.

[tomkow6]

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, (Dec. 7, 2002) -- Gun turret number three aboard the USS Arizona Memorial protrudes from the waters of Pearl Harbor as USS Port Royal (CG 73) prepares to pass-in-review and render honors to the sunken battleship. A solemn ceremony, hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, featured Hawaii's senior Senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye as guest speaker. 17 survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and their family members joined nearly 200 guests for the ceremony which included a wreath-laying by all branches of the U.S. military. The Governor of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and more than 20 other veteran's groups were also part of the ceremony. The commemoration marks the 61st anniversary of the attack and honors the men and women who lost their lives that day. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, (Dec. 7, 2002) -- The Naval Station Pearl Harbor Ceremonial Guard prepares to perform morning colors as USS Port Royal (CG 73) passes in review on the USS Arizona Memorial during the Dec. 7th commemoration ceremony. The solemn ceremony, hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, featured Hawaii's senior Senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye as guest speaker. 17 survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and their family members joined nearly 200 guests for the ceremony which included a wreath-laying by all branches of the U.S. military. The Governor of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and more than 20 other veteran's groups were also part of the ceremony. The commemoration marks the 61st anniversary of the attack and honors the men and women who lost their lives that day. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin.

[Valin]

"He's on a snow tire, somewhere in Minnesota.

FYI Studs are illegal in Mn.
Wait let me rephrase studded SNOWTIRES are illeagl in Mn.
As all Mn. ladies know all Mn. men are studs.

[tomkow6]

Retired Chief Yeoman Edward Borucki, a Pearl Harbor attack survivor, visits the shrine room on the USS Arizona Memorial at the Dec. 7th commemoration ceremony. The solemn ceremony, hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, featured Hawaii's senior Senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye as guest speaker. 17 survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and their family members joined nearly 200 guests for the ceremony which included a wreath-laying by all branches of the U.S. military. The Governor of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and more than 20 other veteran's groups were also part of the ceremony. The commemoration marks the 61st anniversary of the attack and honors the men and women who lost their lives that day. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin.

Pearl Harbor attack survivor Manual H. Magdaleno arrives at the USS Arizona Memorial to attend the Annual Dec. 7th Commemoration Ceremony. The solemn ceremony, hosted by Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, featured Hawaii's senior Senator and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye as guest speaker. 17 survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and their family members joined nearly 200 guests for the ceremony which included a wreath-laying by all branches of the U.S. military. The Governor of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and more than 20 other veteran's groups were also part of the ceremony. The commemoration marks the 61st anniversary of the attack and honors the men and women who lost their lives that day. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Johnnie R. Robbins.

[Pippin]

Good Morning, Tonkin and everyone else!

Good morning to the military lurkers and other lurkers!

Hope everyone has a very Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year!

[Pippin]

Howdy TomKow!

[Valin]

On This Day In history

Birthdates which occurred on December 11:
1475 Leo X [Giovanni de' Medici] Italy, Pope (1513-21)
1566 Manuel Cardoso composer
1676 Johann Georg Weichenberger composer
1712 Francesco Algarotti Italian earl/encyclopedic (Viaggio in Russia)
1757 Charles Wesley composer
1758 Carl Friedrich Zelter composer
1781 Sir David Brewster Scotland, physicist/inventor (kaleidoscope)
1783 Max von Schenkendorf German poet
1793 Pietro Coppola composer
1797 Hiram Paulding rear-admiral (Union Navy), died in 1878
1801 Grabbe writer
1803 Hector Lou Berlioz Côte-Saint-André Isère France, composer (Manqué)
1810 Alfred de Musset Paris France, writer (Un Caprice, Bettine)
1823 Yury Nikolayevich Golitsin composer
1835 Adolf Stoecker German anti semite/PM
1836 Jan Boissevain Dutch politician/ship owner
1838 Emil Rathenau German industrialist (AEG)
1838 Whitney Eugene Thayer composer
1840 Kemal Bey Turkey, poet/author (Fatherland-1872)
1843 Robert Koch German bacteriologist (TB, cholera, Nobel 1905)
1849 Ellen Key Swedendish theory/author/feminist (Courageous Woman)
1855 Julian Edwards composer
1856 Georgi V Plechanov Russian revolutionary theorist
1863 Annie Jump Cannon US, stellar spectroscopist (Harvard-classification)
1868 Ernst Henrik Ellberg composer
1874 Paul Wegener German actor/director (Student of Prag)
1876 Mieczyslaw Karlowicz composer
1882 Fiorello La Guardia (Mayor-R-NY, 1933-45)
1882 Max Born Germany, physicist (quantum mechanics, Nobel 1954)
1889 Paul Kornfeld writer
1892 Leo Ornstein Kremenchug Russia, composer (Bio in Sonata Form)
1894 Eddie Dowling Woonsocket RI, composer (Anywhere USA)
1896 Georgi K Zjukov Russian minister of Defense (WWII)
1898 Nils J E Ferlin Swedendish poet (Barfotabarn)
1899 Vera von der Heydt psychoanalyst
1904 Joe Coral bookmaker
1905 Eugen Fink German philosopher
1905 Gilbert Roland [Luis Alonso] Juarez México, actor (Juarez, Barbarosa)
1905 Koos van de Griend composer
1906 Birago Diop Senegalees writer/ambassador (Leurres et Lueurs)
1907 Norbert Rosseau composer
1908 Elliott Cook Carter Jr New York NY, composer (Tom & Lily)
1910 Robert Grieve civil servant
1911 Nagib Machfus Egyptian writer (Nobel 1988)
1911 Vincent Henry Kemp poet
1913 Jean Marais Cherbourgh France, actor (Eternal Return, Beauty & the Beast, The Storm Within, Donkey Skin, Orpheus, Stealing Beauty - 1996)
1913 Carlo Ponti Milan Italy, married to Sophia Loren/director (2 Women)
1915 Anna van Beers [Graeve] actress (A Woman like Eve)
1918 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Russia, writer (Cancer Ward, Nobel 1970)
1920 Eddy Firestone San Francisco CA, actor (Eddy-Mixed Doubles)
1922 Grace Paley writer (1970 Arts & Letters Award)
1922 Peter Birch Bronx, choreographer (Jane Froman's USA Canteen)
1923 Betsy Blair actress (Marty)
1924 Marie Windsor [Emily Marie Bertelson] Utah, actress (Double Deal)
1926 Big Mama Thornton blues singer (Ball & Chain, Stronger than Dirt)
1927 Stein Eriksen Norway, giant slalom (Olympics-gold-1952)
1928 Tomas Gutierrez Alea filmmaker
1929 S P "Fergie" Gupte cricketer (brilliant Indian leg-spinner)
1930 Jean-Louis Trintignant France, actor/director (Man & a Woman, Z)
1930 Leonard Friedman violinist
1931 Rita Moreno [Rosa Dolores Alverio] Humacao Puerto Rico, (West Side Story)
1931 Richard Devon Glendale CA, actor (Battle of Blood Island)
1932 Wynn Irwin New York NY, actor (Lotsa Luck, Sugar Time)
1932 Aldár Kovácsi Hungary, pentathlete (Olympics-gold-1952)
1932 Anne Heywood [Violet Pretty] Handsworth England, Miss Great Britain (1949)/actress (Midas Run, I Want What I Want, Good Luck Miss Wyckoff)
1933 Earnest P van Altena author/interpreter (Chansons van Earnest)
1934 Ron Carey Newark NJ, actor (Barney Miller, Montefuscos, High Anxiety)
1934 Salim Durani cricketer (successful Indian batsman of 60's)
1935 Femke Boersma Dutch actress (Verjaring, Pastorale 1943)
1936 Tom Fuccello Newark NJ, actor (Dave-Dallas)
1936 Hans van den Broek Dutch foreign minister (-1992)
1937 Adrian J Vlok South African NP-minister of Law & Order (1986- )
1939 Thomas McGuane US, writer (Cold Feet, Tom Horn, Missouri Breaks)
1939 Tom Hayden 60's activist/Mr Jane Fonda/(Representative-D-CA)
1940 Patrick Tovatt Garrett Ridge CO, actor (Cal-As the World Turns)
1940 David Gates Tulsa OK, musician (Bread-If, Everything I Own)
1941 Max Baucus (Senator-D-MT)
1941 Rogier van Otterloo Dutch composer/conductor
1942 Karen Susman tennis pro (Wimbledon 1962)
1943 Donna Mills Chicago IL, actress (Knots Landing, Incident)
1944 Lynda Day George San Marcos TX, actress (Casey-Mission Impossible)
1944 Booker T Jones US organist (Booker T & MGs-Green Onions) [or Nov 12]
1944 Brenda Lee [Brenda Mae Tarpley] Lithonia GA, singer (I'm Sorry)
1944 David Ashley White composer
1945 Robert Pickett rocker
1946 Teri Garr Lakewood OH, actress (Mr Mom, Young Frankenstein)
1946 Rick McCosker cricketer (fine Australian opener 1975-80)
1947 Tom Fuccello Newark NJ, actor (Dave-Dallas)
1948 Elizabeth Baur Los Angeles CA, actress (Fran-Ironside, Teresa-Lancer)
195- Isabella Hoffmann actress (Kate-Dear John)
1950 Christine Onassis [Andreadis] New York NY, Aristotle's daughter
1951 Robert Cochran Claremont VT, skier (Olympics-1972)
1952 Susan Seidelman director (Desperately Seeking Susan)
1953 Bess Armstrong Baltimore MD, actress (Julia-On Our Own, 4 Seasons, Jaws)
1953 Ken Wahl actor (Wanderers, Wise Guys)
1953 Peter Isacksen Dover NH, actor (CPO Sharkey, Jessie)
1954 Jermaine Jackson Gary IN, singer (Jackson 5-ABC)
1954 Bradley Dub Bryant Amarillo TX, PGA golfer (1995 Walt Disney)
1954 Sylvester Clarke cricketer (West Indian fast bowler & brick-thrower)
1955 Stu Jackson Reading PA, NBA coach (New York Knicks (1989-90)
1958 Nicki Sixx San Jose CA, rock guitarist (Mötley Crüe-Girls Girls Girls)
1958 Regina Marsikova Czechoslovakia, tennis star
1959 Tina Gayle Frankfurt German Federal Republic, Cowboy cheerleader/actress (Kathy-Chips)
1959 David Iwasaki-Smith Warragul Victoria, Australasia golfer
1959 Jean-Louis Lamarre La Prairie Que, golfer (Québec PGA-1982, 85)
1960 Danny Mijovic Belgrade Yugo, Canadian Tour golfer (1984 Mexican)
1960 Mary Beth Zimmerman Mount Vernon IL, LPGA golfer (1987 Henredon Classic)
1961 Mike Henneman St Charles MO, pitcher (Texas Rangers)
1962 Kim Linehan swimmer (1979 1500 meter World record)
1962 Curtis Williams rocker
1962 Ejo Elburg Dutch soccer player (Pax, NEC)
1963 Mark Alalmo actor (Avenging Force)
1963 Claudia Kohde-Kilsch German Federal Republic, tennis star
1963 John Lammers Dutch soccer player (NAC)
1963 Mark Greatbatch cricketer (big-hitting New Zealand opener)
1964 Dave Gagner Chatham, NHL center (Toronto Maple Leafs)
1964 Justin Currie Scottish rock vocalist/bassist (Del Amitri)
1964 Thomas Howard Middletown OH, outfielder (Cincinnati Reds)
1965 Laurie Carr Dallas TX, playmate (December 1986)
1965 Jay Bell Eglin AFB FL, infielder (Pittsburgh Pirates)
1966 Terry Sharpe rocker (The Adventures, Starjets-Starjets)
1967 Davidson Matyczuk Thunder Bay Ontario, golfer (Thunder Bay-1986, 87)
1967 Jackie Gallagher-Smith LPGA golfer
1967 Katy Steding Lake Oswego OR, basketball forward (Olympics-gold-96)
1967 Richard Stemp cricketer (Yorkshire & England A left-arm spinner)
1968 Derek Bell Tampa FL, outfielder (Houston Astros)
1968 Mark Dailey Parma OH, 1.5k runner
1970 Danan Hughes NFL wide receiver (Kansas City Chiefs)
1970 Doug Nussmeier NFL quarterback (New Orleans Saints)
1970 Errict Rhett NFL running back (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1970 Victoria Fuller Santa Barbara CA, playmate (January 1996)
1971 Cedric Ihalauw soccer player (Roda JC)
1971 Willie McGinest NFL outside linebacker (New England Patriots)
1972 Daniel Alfredsson Grums Sweden, NHL right wing (Ottawa Senators)
1972 Francisco Rodriguez Brooklyn NY, pitcher (Minnesota Twins)
1972 Robert Robinson CFL defensive linebacker (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
1973 Erin Moorad Chicago IL, pairs skater (& Richard Gillam)
1973 Luke Casserly Australian soccer defender (Olyroos, Olympics-96)
1973 Ralph Intranuovo East York, NHL center (Edmonton Oilers)
1974 Kevin Devine cornerback/kick returner (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1976 Shareef AbdurRahim NBA forward (Vancouver Grizzlies)
1980 Rider Strong San Francisco CA, actor (Shawn Hunter-Boy Meets World)

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Deaths which occurred on December 11:
0711 Justitianus II emperor of Byzantium, dies at about 42
1282 Llywelyn ab Gruffydd monarch of North Wales (1246-77), dies
1282 Michael VIII Paleologus, Byzantine emperor (1259-82), dies
1524 Henry Van Zutphen Dutch protestant martyr, burned at stake
1573 Alardus/Eilard de Waterlant duke of Alva, hanged
1582 Fernando Alvarez de Toledo marquis of Soria, dies at about 75
1595 Philip III van Croij prince of Chimay/general, dies at 69
1610 Adam Elsheimer German painter/cartoonist/etcher, buried at 32
1610 Forges Dimitri #2 czar of Russia, murdered
1686 Louis II Condé duke of Bourbon, dies at 65
1718 Charles XII King of Sweden (1697-1718), shot dead
1748 Ewald G von Kleist German lawyer/inventor of condensator, dies at 55
1756 Theodor A Freiherr von Neuhoff German adventurer/king, dies
1817 Max von Schenkendorf German poet, dies at 34
1831 John George Schetky composer, dies at 55
1847 Moritz Grave von Strachwitz German poet, dies at 25
1857 François Henri Joseph Castil-Blaze composer, dies at 73
1891 Johan C J van Schagen Dutch poet/writer (Narrenwijsheid), dies
1899 Andrew "Andy" Wauchope British general-major, dies in battle
1899 Lord Winchester British marquis/major, dies in battle
1902 Matthias Hohner German manufacturer (harmonica), dies at 68
1903 Patrick McShane cricket player/umpire (1884-85 Ashes series), dies
1911 Thomas Ball US sculptor/painter/singer, dies at 92
1918 Ivan Cankar Slavic author (Hlapec Jernej), dies at 42
1930 Friedrich von Bernhardi German war theorist/historian, dies at 81
1933 Emile C Wauters Belgian painter (Van der Goes Klooster), dies at 87
1955 Franz Adolf Syberg composer, dies at 51
1955 Johan C Altorf sculptor (October 3 Monument), dies at 79
1964 Percy Kilbride actor (Ma & Pa Kettle), dies at 76
1964 Sam Cooke US, singer (You Send Me, Sad Moon), slain at a motel at 33
1967 Howard Freeman actor (Double Dynamite), dies after illness in New York NY
1967 Richard Stohr composer, dies at 93
1967 Victor De Sabata composer, dies at 75
1968 Nadine Riga dies of cerebral hemorrhage at 59
1972 John Mills cricketer (7 Tests for New Zealand in early 1930's, 241 runs), dies
1972 Semjon I Kirsanov Ukrainian poet (Zolushka), dies at 66
1974 Reed Hadley actor (Racket Squad, Public Defender), dies at 63
1979 Claire Carleton New York NY, actress (Alice-Cimarron City), dies at 66
1983 Szymon Laks composer, dies at 82
1984 George Waggner director/writer, dies at 90
1986 Paul Keenan actor (Summer Fantasy), dies at 30
1990 Fernand J Collin Belgian economist/banker, dies at 92
1991 Headman Tshabala musician (Ladysmith Black Mambazo), slain at 44
1991 Artur Lundkvist Swedish writer/professor (Swedish Academy), dies
1991 Daniel Simon Scott dies of Alzheimer's disease at 71
1991 Robert Q Lewis US comic/TV panel member (RQL Show), dies at 70
1992 Michael Robbins actor (Lunch Hour, On the Buses), dies at 62
1992 Vilma Banky silent film actress (Eagle, Rebel), dies at about 90
1993 Ales Gartner Slavic ski trainer of Norway, dies at 45
1993 Eliva "Elvire" Popesco Romanian/French actress (Le roi), dies at 99
1994 Stanislaw Maczek Polish/British general-major (WWII), dies at 102
1994 Yao Yilin Vice PM of China (1979), dies
1995 Arthur Mullard comedian, dies at 82
1995 John Heawood actor singer/choreographer (Pleasure Garden), dies at 75
1995 Robert Shelton (Shapiro) journalist, dies at 69
1996 Herbert Sally Frankel economist, dies at 93
1996 Robert Bromston Thesiger Daniell soldier, dies at 95
1996 W G G Duncan-Smith fighter pilot, dies at 82
1996 William George Rushton actor (TW3)/author/cartoonist, dies at 59
1997 Kenneth William Gatland aerospace scientist, dies at 73

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On this day...
0384 St Damasus I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1419 Heretic Nicolaas Serrurier exiled from Florence
1477 Duchess Maria van Bourgondie ends Great Privilegie
1572 Spanish troops begin siege of Haarlem
1618 Russia & Poland signs Peace treaty of Dailino
1620 103 Mayflower pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock
1665 "Messiah" Sjabtai Tswi festival in Smyrna
1688 King James II arrested
1710 Battle of Villa Viciosa (France beat Habsburgers)
1718 Battle at Frederikshall Norway
1719 1st recorded display of Aurora Borealis in US (New England)
1730 Voltaire's "Brutus" premieres in Paris
1792 France's King Louis XVI went on trial, accused of treason
1812 1st newspaper on Curaçao (Curaçao Gazette & Commercial Advertiser)
1816 Citizens of Geneva thwarted Savoyard invaders
1816 Indiana becomes 19th state
1844 1st dental use of nitrous oxide, Hartford CT
1866 1st yacht race across the Atlantic Ocean
1872 1st black US Governor took office, Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (Louisiana)
1882 Boston's Bijou Theatre, 1st American playhouse lit exclusively by electricity, 1st performance, Gilbert & Sullivan's "Iolanthe"
1882 Victorien Sardous "Fedora", with Sarah Bernhardt, premieres in Paris
1888 French Panama Canal company fails
1893 11 fishing ships wash up at Wadden Sea, 22 killed
1899 2nd defeat of "Black Week" - Battle of Magersfontein - Boer leader Cronjé vs General Methuen
1901 Marconi sends 1st transatlantic radio signal, Cornwall to Newfoundland
1903 British forces under MacDonald & Young march into Tibet
1905 120º F (49º C), Rivadavia, Argentina (South American record)
1905 British government of Campbell-Bannerman forms
1906 US President Roosevelt attacks abuses in the Congo
1908 Frederick Delius' "In a Summer Garden" premieres
1909 Colored moving pictures demonstrated at Madison Square Garden, New York NY
1909 Canadian Football exhibition game played in Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, Hamilton Tigers beat Ottawa Rough Riders, 11-6 before 15,000
1914 Stockton Street Tunnel (San Francisco) completed
1916 David Lloyd George forms British war government
1917 13 black soldiers hanged for alleged participation in Houston riot
1917 German-occupied Lithuania proclaims independence from Russia
1919 Boll weevil monument dedicated in Enterprise AL
1925 Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Quas Primas
1926 Josephine Baker performs in Amsterdam
1926 Queensland win their 1st Sheffield Shield cricket match, vs New South Wales
1928 Buenos Aires police thwart an attempt on President-elect Herbert Hoover
1928 National League President John Heydler proposes designated hitter for pitchers
1930 Bank of the United States opens in New York NY
1931 British Statute of Westminster gives complete legislative independence to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Newfoundland
1931 Japan leaves the Golden Standard
1932 San Francisco's coldest day (27ºF) - snow falls
1934 1st Toronto Maple Leaf penalty shot, Conacher unsuccessful vs Rangers
1934 Ford C Frick becomes president of baseball's National League
1934 1935 All-Star Game is assigned to Cleveland
1934 National League votes to permit night baseball (up to 7 games per home team)
1936 King Edward VIII abdicates throne to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson; Duke of York becomes King George VI
1937 Italy withdraws from League of Nations
1937 25th CFL Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts defeats Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 30-7
1938 New York Giants win NFL championship
1939 New anti Jewish measurements in Poland, proclaimed
1940 Russian General Zhukov warns of German assault
1941 Germany & Italy declare war on US
1941 Japanese occupy Guam
1941 Dutch government in London declares war on Italy
1941 Giants acquire Johnny Mize from Cardinals for 3 players & $50,000
1941 Japanese attack Wake Island (only failed WWII-landing)
1942 Australian/Dutch guerrilla troops evacuated to Timor near Australia
1944 Surprise attack on House of Keeping Axe, 29 prisoners freed
1945 Het Parool publishes 1st Captain Rob-strip
1946 UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) established (Nobel 1965)
1946 Hank Williams begins to record on Sterling label
1946 Spain suspended from UN
1947 Pacific Coast League application for major league status rejected
1947 Bob Hilliard/Carl Sigman's musical "Angel in the Wings" premieres at Coronet Theater NYC for 308 performances
1948 WHEN (now WTVH) TV channel 5 in Syracuse NY (CBS) begins broadcasting
1948 WMC TV channel 5 in Memphis TN (NBC) begins broadcasting
1949 Chicago Bear Johnny Lujack passes for 6 touchdowns vs Chicago Cardinals (52-29)
1949 Cleveland Browns beat San Francisco '49ers 21-7 in final AAFC championship game
1949 WOAI (now KMOL) TV channel 4 in San Antonio TX (NBC) 1st broadcast
1950 Baseball owners vote 9-7 not to renew Commissioner Chandler's contract
1950 Hindemiths Concerto for clarinet, premieres
1951 Joe Dimaggio announces his baseball retirement
1953 KTVA TV channel 11 in Anchorage (CBS) becomes Alaska's 1st TV station
1954 USS Forrestal christened in Newport News VA
1954 Phillies purchase Connie Mack Stadium
1956 Anti-Russian demonstrates in Stettin & Wroclaw Poland
1957 Jerry Lee Lewis weds Myra
1958 Upper Volta (now Bourkina Fasso) gains autonomy from France
1958 4th (last) Dutch government of Drees falls
1958 Archibald MacLeish's "JB" premieres in New York NY
1959 Yankees trade Marv Thronberry, Don Larsen, Hank Bauer & Norm Seibern for Roger Maris, Kent Hadley & Joe Deaestri
1960 Black Sunday - Riot in Algiers, 114 die
1960 Cleveland's Bernie Parrish sets club record for longest interception return with a 92 yard run
1960 Coleman/Leigh's musical "Wildcat" with Lucille Ball premieres in New York NY
1961 Adolf Eichmann is found guilty of war crimes, in Israel
1961 Elvis Presley's "Blue Hawaii" album goes to #1 & stays #1 for 20 weeks
1961 JFK provides US military helicopters & crews to South Vietnam
1961 "Please, Mr. Postman" by Marvelettes, released
1965 "Anya" closes at Ziegfeld Theater NYC after 16 performances
1965 "Yearling" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 3 performances
1966 Al Nelson sets NFL record returning missed field goal, 100 yards
1967 Beatles' Apple Music signs its 1st group-Grapefruit
1967 SST prototype "Concorde" 1st shown (France)
1967 6.5 earthquake in West India, 170 killed
1967 People's front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) established
1968 US Soccer Football Association refuses to let NASL disband
1968 KECC (now KECY) TV channel 9 in El Centro CA (CBS) 1st broadcast
1969 Libya adopts constitution
1970 Start of the 1st Test match at the WACA, vs England
1970 Test Cricket debut of Gregory Stephen Chappell
1972 Astronauts Cernan & Harrison become 11th & 12th on the Moon
1972 Jet's Don Maynard becomes all time pro reception leader (632)
1973 Houston Astro Caesar Cedino jailed in death of 19 year old woman
1973 NA Soccer League awards Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle & Vancouver franchises
1973 Ron Santo becomes 1st to invoke no-trade clause of 10-year-1-club vet
1973 West German chancellor Willy Brandt normalizes trade with Czechoslovakia
1975 1st class postage rises from 10¢ to 13¢
1975 Great Yankee trade getting Willie Randolph, Dock Ellis & Ken Brett from Pirates for George "Doc" Medich
1977 Billboard Awards
1978 6 masked men bound 10 employees at Lufthansa cargo area at New York Kennedy Airport & made off with $5.8 million in cash & jewelry
1979 Geoff Boycott scores cricket century in a limited-over international
1979 Great Britain grants independence to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia)
1980 Dirk Wellham scores 100 on 1st-class debut, New South Wales vs Victoria
1981 Muhammad Ali's 61st & last fight, losing to Trevor Berbick
1981 Spacelab I arrives at Kennedy Space Center
1981 UN Security Council chose Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as 5th Secretary-General
1981 Washington Capitals biggest margin of victory (9) beating Toronto 11-2
1981 Argentine President/General Roberto Viola flees
1983 1st visit to Lutheran church by a pope (John Paul II in Rome)
1983 72nd Australian Men's Tennis: Mats Wilander beats Ivan Lendl (61 64 64)
1983 Jan Stephens/Fred Couples win LPGA J C Penney Golf Classic
1984 "Doug Henning & His World..." opens at Lunt-Fontanne NYC for 60 performances
1984 Mauretania military coup under Colonel Maawiya Ould Sid'ahmed Taya
1985 Edmonton Oilers (36) & Chicago Black Hawks (26) score NHL record 62 points
1985 General Electric acquires RCA Corp & its subsidiary, NBC
1985 NHL Record 62 points scored, Edmonton (36) beats Chicago (17) 12-9 & ties record of 21 goals
1985 Computer store owner in Sacramento CA killed by package bomb
1985 Dow Jones closes above 1,500 for 1st time (1,511.70)
1986 A Bartlett Giamatti becomes president of baseball's National League
1986 South Africa censors press
1987 Test debut of Carl Hooper, West Indies vs India at Bombay
1989 Mark Davis signs record $3.25 million per year Kansas City Royals contract
1989 "City of Angels" opens at Virginia Theater NYC for 878 performances
1990 13 die in 83 vehicle accident in Chattanooga TN (I-75), due to fog
1990 US 69th manned space mission STS 35 (Columbia 11) returns from space
1991 William Kennedy Smith found not guilty of rape
1992 Nor'easter storm hits New York, doing $650 million+ worth of damage
1992 WNEW AM radio on 1130 in NYC ends transmitting after 58 years
1993 59th Heisman Trophy Award: Charlie Ward, Florida State (QB)
1993 Eduardo Frei elected President of Chile
1994 Kelly Robbins & Tammie Green win LPGA Diner's Club Golf Matches
1994 Russian troops pull inside Tsjetsjenië
1995 Thomas O Hicks buys NHL Dallas Stars for $84 million
1997 "Sunshine Boys" opens at Lyceum Theater NYC
1997 Federal judge orders Microsoft not to bundle IE4 in Windows

---

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Geneva Switzerland : Scaling Day/Escalade (1602, 1816)
Indiana : Admission Day (1816)
Upper Volta : Republic Day (1958)

---

Religious Observances
Roman Catholic : Memorial of St Damascus I, pope (366-384) (optional)
Lutheran : Commemoration of Lars Skrefsrud, missionary to India

---

Religious History
1518 Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli, 34, was elected People's Preacher at the Old Minster Church in Zurich, where he continued as pastor for the remaining 13 years of his life.
1640 English Puritans introduced the "Root and Branch" petition to the Long Parliament in London. It demanded the English episcopacy, "with all its dependencies, roots and branches, be abolished." (The imagery comes from Malachi 4:1.)
1792 Birth of Joseph Mohr, the Austrian Roman Catholic vicar who, along with the Oberndorf Church organist Franz Gruber, on Christmas Eve of 1818, authored the enduring Christmas hymn, "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night").
1962 American missionary and apologist Francis Schaeffer wrote in a letter: 'Our trusting the Lord does not mean that there are not times of tears. I think it is a mistake as Christians to act as though trusting the Lord and tears are not compatible.'
1975 The Central American Mission changed its name to CAM Intentional, after expanding its missionary efforts into Latin America. (This evangelical mission group was founded in 1890 by C.I. Scofield, editor of the Scofield Bible.)

---

Thought for the day :
" When in doubt, make it sound convincing. "

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !! Happy hump day !

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

Eggnog, Anyone?

[Soaring Feather]

[Soaring Feather]

Military and the Canteen Men

Thank you for the lovely lillies this morning.

[Soaring Feather]

Retired Chief Yeoman Edward Borucki, a Pearl Harbor attack survivor, visits the shrine room on the USS Arizona Memorial at the Dec. 7th commemoration ceremony

Pearl Harbor attack survivor Manual H. Magdaleno arrives at the USS Arizona Memorial to attend the Annual Dec. 7th Commemoration Ceremony.

Thank you for your service to the United States of America! Bless You!!!

[shezza]

How lovely! Thank you very much. I'm so proud of military wives...although it's the husband who has chosen to serve his country, she, too, is making many sacrifices in the name of liberty and justice for all.

Not us at the moment...we're some of the lucky ones! My darling one will be here for Christmas. But our neighbors across the street are separated from their loved one, who went off to participate in the war games in Qatar. Down the street is a husband who is serving a year in Korea, unaccompanied by his wife and three children. It's the mom next door who is preparing to leave for Kosovo, so her two girls will move to another state to live with their dad, leaving behind schoolmates and neighbors. Across the country, in Seattle, my Air Force brother's wife is in Afghanistan, and he's on standby to be called up at a moment's notice if we go into Iraq.

And you know what? I haven't heard ANYBODY complaining. That's part of being a military family--the entire family is serving this country, in one way or another. We all have to expect to be separated from our dear ones at some time or another. Despotism, tyranny and war aren't considerate.

We understand that, we accept that, and we are so proud of our husbands, our fathers, our brothers, our sons, our wives and mothers and sisters and daughters who fight against those evils. If they are willing to sacrifice their very lives for us, and for millions of strangers they will never know, we should be willing to make all those little sacrifices for them.

As I said, we're some of the lucky ones. My husband's unit will be going in the event of a war, so his trunk and duffel bag are already packed--but unlike some of his friends, he's still here with his family for the holidays. We know that when he goes, we may not see him for six or eight or twelve months, so we try to squeeze in as much quality time as we can. What lies ahead is uncertain and scary, but I look at all those around me who have "been there, done that." What an inspiring lot!

So again, thanks for your salute to military wives. And I join you in your tribute.

[Soaring Feather]

Navy Senior Chief Musician Wayne Taylor (left) and Navy Chief Musician Keith Arneson (right) lend a country and bluegrass flavor to the holiday music performed by the United States Navy Band

Thank you MEN you are fabulous!

NAVY yes!!!!!

[Soaring Feather]

ooooooohhhhhhhhh fish hawk g-r-o-o-o-o-a-n.........:-(

[tomkow6]

Some people have NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sense of humor!

[tomkow6]

Dr. Cutter is the local Veterinarian, known for his wry humor.
He surpassed himself one summer day when a city dog was
brought to him after an encounter with a porcupine.

After almost an hour of prying, pulling, cutting and stitching, he
returned the dog to its owner, who asked what she owed.

"Thirty dollars, Ma'am," he answered.

"Why that's simply outrageous!" she stormed. "That's what's
wrong with you Maine people, you're always trying to
overcharge summer visitors. Whatever do you do in the winter,
when we're not being gypped here?"

"Raise porcupines, Ma'am."

[SouthernHawk]

Your right, but heck I have to keep trying!

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives
I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do
while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation
from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller
coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but
nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy
beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

[tomkow6]

SELF-EVIDENT TRUTHS ABOUT PETS

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you
more than he loves himself.

An aquarium is just interactive television for cats.

Cat's motto:
No matter what you've done wrong, always try to
make it look like the dog did it.

Although cats are rather delicate creatures, and
they are subject to a good many ailments, I never
heard of one who suffered from insomnia.

Buy a dog a toy and it will play with it forever.
Buy a cat a present and it will play with the
wrapper for 10 minutes.

Dogs and cats instinctively know the exact moment
their owners will wake up. Then they wake them
10 minutes sooner.

Dog's have owners.
Cat's have staff.

Dogs believe they are human.
Cats believe they are God.

Dogs shed, cats shred.

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members
of a weird religious cult?

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three
dog biscuits in your pocket then giving Fido
only two of them.

No one appreciates the very special genius of
your conversation as the dog does.

Things that upset a terrier may pass virtually
unnoticed by a Great Dane.

Outside of a dog, a book is probably man's best
friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I
am.

Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as
gods. Cats have never forgotten this.

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive
evidence that you are wonderful.

People that hate cats will come back as dogs in
their next life.

We wonder why the dogs always drink out of our
toilets, but look at it from their point of view:
Why do humans keep urinating into their water bowls?

Why do dogs lick their private parts???
They're trying to get rid of the taste of dog food!!

[Soaring Feather]

oooooohhhh yes, I have!! Here don't have a reincow over it tomkow! I think this is funny.....heeheehee

[Severa]

Good morning from VA Beach!

Working on finalizing plans for our trip home for the Christmas holiday. Also planning on taking kids to Sears to get their pictures taken this evening. If hubby gets home from work in time we'll get the whole family in the shot but I'm not holding my breath *grumbles* especially with the boat's captain wanting to go out to sea the week before standown. I will have pictures up one way or another as soon as I can.

Looks like all the really crappy weather is evading us...so far. Just cold and rainy the past few days. Kids are doing good. I'm not so sore from surgery anymore, though sneezing is still a bit of a frightening concept.

Have a great day everyone!

[SAMWolf]

An Afghan man sits next to the monument erected in memoriam of CIA agent Mike Spann, killed in December of 2001 during the uprising of Taliban prisoners in Qala-i-Janji fortress, near the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Picture taken November 21, 2002. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

Staff Sgt. Michael McNaughton, left, of Baton Rouge, La., walks away from the MCV or the mine clearing vehicle as they prepare to join the German deminers Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The ongoing demining operation is being participated in by different armies of the joint coalition task force. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)

Staff Sgt. John Fairchild of Slidell, La., watches from a distance as the MCV or the mine clearing vehicle makes its way through a minefield Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

Members of the 769th Engineering of the U. S. Army gather together before they start their early morning mission Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan as two MCV's or the mine clearing vehicle are on standby. The task of demining the surroundings of the air base is a tough job for the coalition army as thousands of active mines are still on the ground. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)

Staff Sgt. John Fairchild, right, of Slidell, La., talks to Sgt. Bernard Hajducki of the Polish Army as they coordinate their movements on the ongoing demining activity Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

Sgt. Bernard Hajducki of the Polish Army walks on the mine field wearing an air cushioned protector they called the 'moon boots' during the ongoing demining activity Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

Corporal Jacob Phillips of Baton Rouge, La., checks the chains attached to the MCV or the mine clearing vehicle before starting again on demining activity Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

Crews of the MCV or the mine clearing vehicle check on its operation during the ongoing demining activity Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

[harpseal]

After doing my daily e-mails to some gentlemen in the Navy and USMC I am bumping this thread.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[SAMWolf]

Great picture Tom. Brings tears to your eyes!

[SAMWolf]

MAIL'S IN — Members of the 175th Postal Company at Kandahar Army Airfield sort mail for soldiers deployed soldiers in Afghanistan. U.S. Army Photo by SPC Preston Cheeks

[Soaring Feather]

MAIL'S IN — Members of the 175th Postal Company at Kandahar Army Airfield sort mail for soldiers deployed soldiers in Afghanistan.

Good Morning SAM,

So glad you put this picture up, families see their mail is getting to our TROOPS!!

So important for each member of our Troops to get mail from home!!

[freedumb2003]

Good morning Tonk, Tom, radu, Kathy, etc. and all the troops, allies and their respective families!!

God bless you all!

Tom and Lily

[tomkow6]

At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Dec. 9, 2002 -- A plane director guides an F/A-18 “Hornet” from the “War Party” of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Seven (VFA-87) into position on the ship’s flight deck. VFA-87 is part of Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) embarked aboard Theodore Roosevelt. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class James K. McNeil.

At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Dec. 9, 2002) -- A plane director guides an F/A-18 “Hornet” from the “Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron Two Zero One (VFA-201) into position on the ship’s flight deck. VFA-201 is part of Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) embarked aboard Theodore Roosevelt. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class James K. McNeil.

Naval Station San Diego, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2002) -- During a force protection exercise, Sailors run tests on a substance representing Anthrax which was thrown aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) by a simulated intruder on the pier. Force Protection training involves Sailors responding to various potential scenarios of intruder or terrorist activity on or near U.S. Navy ships or installations. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Edward G. Martens.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click for current time
in Afghanistan

[Kathy in Alaska]

FREE TED MAHER

Click on Ted for Ted Maher Thread

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you,
The power of God protect you 
The presenceof God watch over you 
Wherever you are,God is, 
And all is well.

Amen.
 

.

Bless This House

Bless this house O Lord we pray;
Make it safe by night and day;
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove
ever open to joy and love.

 
Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there,
with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within,
keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we
May dwell O Lord with thee.
 

.

(Click on praying hands above,
or on banner at the top to hear the music)

[E.G.C.]

MONACO, FREE TED MAHER NOW!!!!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Bless This House sung along with this morning,
twice because I love this song for our troops USO Canteen, and
Prayer of Protection said for all who enter the USO Canteen Freeper Style,
including our troops, our veterans, their families and our allies.
Welcome to all who come to honor our troops and veterans,
for whom this USO Canteen was created.

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

Wherever you are, God is, and all is well!

[tomkow6]

Random thoughts from my "voices":

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

The world doesn't just disappear when you close your eyes, does
it?

The trouble with doing something right the first time is that
nobody appreciates how difficult it was.

Whoever said there is no such thing as a stupid question has
never worked in customer service.

The great thing about living in a small town is when you don't
know what you're doing, someone else does.

Well behaved women rarely make history.

The trouble with life is you're half way through it before you
realize it's a 'do it yourself' thing.

Living in fear is the same as fear of living. Either way, you
have no life.

The bad guys don't always wear black hats, the good guys rarely
win, and the cavalry never, ever shows up just in the nick of
time!

Life is a terminal disease for which there is no vaccination.

[tomkow6]

What did the guest sing at the Eskimo's Christmas party ?
Freeze a jolly fellow !

How did the chickens dance at the Christmas party ?
Chick to chick !

[redhead]

Oooh, Tonk! That's a gorgeous bouquet. Did you know that the fragrance from those red lilies will fill a house? Thank you!

TO THE TROOPS:

As it get closer to Christmas, we are all more and more aware of how far away from your families and loved ones you are. God bless all of you richly. May He bring you all home safely and may you be victorious. Merry Christmas to you all. Godspeed.

Love and prayers,

[hedgetrimmer]

Thanks for posting these pictures!

They are terrifically informative.

[redhead]

""He's on a snow tire, somewhere in Minnesota. FYI Studs are illegal in Mn. Wait let me rephrase studded SNOWTIRES are illeagl in Mn. As all Mn. ladies know all Mn. men are studs."

Studded tires are legal in ALASKA.

MY Minnesota man is DEFINITELY a stud.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning everyone.