• VETERANS DAY
  NOV. 11, 2002
• THANKSGIVING
  NOV. 28, 2002
• CHRISTMAS EVE
  DEC. 24, 2002
• CHRISTMAS
  DEC. 25, 2002
• MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
  JAN 20, 2003 (observed)

THE FINAL INSPECTION
Submitted by Bob Staranowicz,
Author Unknown
Oct. 2002

The soldier stood and faced his God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and
said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God,
"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

Join Freedom Writer in honoring our Nation's veterans with these archived links for Veterans' Day:

• From Issue 10
• WHAT IS A VIET-NAM VETERAN?
• A VETERAN DIED TODAY

Thanksgiving Story, The - Learn about how the Thanksgiving celebration was turned into a national holiday.

Thanksgiving Graphics by Pat - View an entire set of Thanksgiving images available to the general public. Includes backgrounds and boarders.

4Free Thanksgiving Clip Art - Explore this comprehensive selection of free Thanksgiving clip art, backgrounds, icons, and graphics.
See also: LookSmart Main - Thanksgiving Clip-Art

About - Thanksgiving Graphics - Get images of cornucopias, pumpkins, or cooked turkeys in print and Web formats. Pictures come in color and B&W versions as well as different sizes.

About - Thanksgiving Images & Backgrounds - Browse a collection of links to clip art sites, organized alphabetically by title.

Themes Shed - Thanksgiving - Contains screensavers and desktop themes featuring Thanksgiving, autumn, and harvest images. Download instructions are included.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan.

CHRISTMAS CALENDAR 2002
Irmingard Anna
New York, NY
Dec.11, 2002

Dear friends:

I have created a Christmas Calendar for the Holiday Season. Each day, you can open a little window and stare at the wonders for both children and adult eyes. May these wonders give you peace and glee and may you open your hearts for this special Season.

The windows will be activated day by day.

ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS (parts 1-4)

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY