I seriously think Crenshaw made a whoopy big deal out of nothing. The whole thing borders on ridiculous, imo.

I guess I have a problem understanding why someone thanking them for their service makes them feel uncomfortable.

I routinely thank LEOs for their service and shake their hand. Don't see many/any ex-service members to thank for their service. Occasionally see some guy with the hat. Don't know if they are wearing it because of their service, or just like the hat.

For those that get all pissy when someone thanks them, suck it up and take it in the spirit it is meant.

quote:

Originally posted by Lord Vaalic:
So my 11 year old who thinks cops and vets are heroes and loves to thank them, should stop? I didn't realize this pisses off some vets so much. Any time he sees a cop he says thank you for keeping us safe, and anytime he sees a vet he thanks them for their service.


Seriously, I guess I should tell him to stop doing it, I didn't know it makes some uncomfortable or irritable.

Kids can do whatever they want, they're cute.
And hot women, just because...

I'm not advocating not saying thanks, I just have a personal issue with a day set aside for that purpose.

In one thread some time ago a member said he thanked veterans who “had the hat,” i.e., those who could be identified by their apparel. I would have assumed that anyone who was wearing a veteran hat or other distinctive demonstration of their former military status wouldn’t object to being thanked; if one doesn’t want to be singled out, why advertise the fact? Such a small segment of the U.S. population ever served in the armed forces that it’s unlikely anyone would just assume someone was a veteran without some indication.

I have a small (1 inch) retired Army pin that I wear on one garment, but I don’t believe anyone has ever recognized it for what it was, and I don’t recall ever being thanked for being a veteran just out of the blue.

I don’t know if it’s a current thing, but at one time Vietnam veterans would be greeted with, “Welcome home.” I’ve never quite understood that sentiment, especially when uttered decades after the fact. And although I may be misinterpreting its meaning, when I first heard it, I was a little annoyed because it seemed to be implying that all Vietnam vets had been sent there against their will and they couldn’t wait to get back. I also got a whiff of the idea that the U.S. should never have attempted to help the South resist Communist aggression. Although it could be argued that we shouldn’t have gotten involved in the conflict in the first place, the fact is that we did, and then betrayed the Republic of Vietnam in a most disgraceful manner.

If someone desires to express their appreciation for my military service to the Nation, “Never forget” is more palatable to me than an ignorant platitude, even if well intentioned. I would think it odd, however, if it came from anyone other than a fellow military veteran. For anyone else, what are they not to forget? But in any event, if someone thanks me for something I always try to accept his thanks in a gracious manner. Why would I not?

A Thank you does it for me and I give out my more than I get.

On Saturday which was the 10th, an older /elderly Retired Marine (hat and jacket) was standing outside of Walmart taking donations for Toys for Tots and I walked up to him and thanked him for his service and wished him a Happy 243rd Birthday, his response was a big Thank you and he commented that no one had said anything about the birthday to him other than me as we shook hands. I didn't think I would get my hand back as he told me Happy birthday and Semper Fi.

"Welcome Home" came about as a way for Vietnam vets to welcome home their brothers who served in Vietnam and were not offered up a "Welcome Home" by the general population. No parades, no speeches, nothing. We now offer it to each other. Kinda like a secret handshake.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Kinda like a secret handshake.

Thank you. I will keep that in mind if it is ever offered to me again.

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
I really just wish people appreciated the sacrifices made on their behalf.

Serious question from a non-vet: There are many of us who do and might wish to communicate such to veterans. Do you have a suggestion how to do so that doesn’t make you uncomfortable?

Did I mention "I just want to be left the hell alone"
To be clear, I never said anything about being "uncomfortable".

You're right. That's all correct. Never was my intention to put words in your mouth. I picked your reply as the one to respond to when others used the word "uncomfortable" as the person to appeal to asking for a clarification on the preference you posted. I don't know how to live my life in such a way as to show gratefulness to veterans (beyond just living my daily life) instead of just saying it, so I figured I would ask. I was raised by the generation that came back from Vietnam and either got spit on at the airport or ignored, and was taught to show more respect than that. But if it's only going to be received as awkward pandering by everyone outside that demographic, then I guess I oughta stow that shit and leave veterans the hell alone.

Although I appreciate the sentiment, when sincere, "Thank you for your service" makes me uncomfortable, as others have posted.

How about something like, "God bless our veterans, and God bless America"? I would love to hear that rather than the thank you.

I'm with 2000Z on this one. I served in peacetime, thank God, but as the saying goes, I gave Uncle Sam that blank check.

I appreciate "Thank you for your service," but would prefer "Never forget" or "We will never forget" as it gives honor to the veteran experience, and not to me personally. I don't desire, or feel that I am owed any honor. My service was unremarkable, but I never want the public to revert to the opinion of vets that was common in the '70s after Vietnam.

By way of example, when I joined the Army in 1992, we did not wear uniform off post in Massachusetts, and a uniform was not authorized for travel through Massachusetts airports. When I went through my Army schooling in Virginia, however, it was an entirely different thing, and uniforms were authorized anywhere during the duty day.

Being in the service, even in peacetime, requires sacrifice on the part of the people who serve. They aren't compensated like their civilian counterparts and the normal rules of society don't apply to them. If the job takes 48 hours without rest, they go 48 hours without rest. If the guy with the silver eagles says "go take that hill", they go take that hill. They are wet, cold (or hot), tired, filthy for days or even weeks on end, fed irregularly, short handed, under supplied, and still expected to get the job done, all with a chance of getting killed, either by accident, bloody mindedness, or enemy.

It is honorable to donate a part of your life to this country, and it makes you a part of a fraternity that you carry with you for ever. I am proud of my service as a nebbish in Germany, and grateful that during my time, combat wasn't on the menu. But if the phone rang today and they called me back, I would go, and go gratefully. (It won't; I'm 53 next week, and that would be scraping the bottom of the barrel...)

People who serve in the military, police, fire, or other public services with significant risk, deserve the thanks of the public for what they do. One of my good friends here is a fireman, and I have the greatest respect for him, and for the sacrifices his family makes owing to his duty. I work with and know well a bunch of guys who have spent significant time outside the wire in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are special people. Both for what they have done, and what that service has in some cases done to them.

Sports figures and entertainers aren't heroes, but that lady standing watch on the cutter's bridge, that guy on the fireline in California, and that deputy heading into the woods after a prowler call are all in a position to be heroes if they are called.

Many of the men I knew as a child carried the scars of WWII on their bodies and minds. Part of the reason I signed up was to honor them. To some extent, I felt that citizenship in this nation required it.

What all those folks do through their willingness to serve others, is make our nation, and to some extent, the world, a better place for all of us. For that I am grateful, and for that I thank them, and will never forget.

I’ll admit it makes me uncomfortable when people thank me but I also don’t want people to stop recognizing our veterans. I just don’t feel I did anything worth being thanked over. It’s a personal thing.

Now I’ve never gotten angry at someone for it and I understand why people want to say it. It makes me happy that people feel gratitude towards vets even though I don’t feel I personally deserve it.

There are many vets who wear the “grey man” badge as proudly as the boot wearing his grunt style T-shirts and can’t wait to wade into any conversation to tell you how much they don’t want recognition. While I don’t have any articles of clothing or bumper stickers with military logos and I don’t eat free meals on Veterans Day, I’m not proud of those things, I just don’t do them. And I don’t look down on those that do.

The only time I volunteer my service to people I don’t know is when I’m at a public event where they ask vets to stand. I stand. For many years I didn’t and frankly it still makes me uncomfortable but when Obama and his administration started attacking veterans as all having PTSD and being high risk for domestic terror attacks I decided to start standing up. I feel it’s important for people to see us as normal everyday people and not the hate filled killing machines that the GDCs try to make us out as.

TL;DR - You won’t ever make everyone happy so don’t stress about it.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I seriously think Crenshaw made a whoopy big deal out of nothing. The whole thing borders on ridiculous, imo.

100% agree.

"Never forget" trends more toward Memorial Day and those who gave all.

"Thank you for your service" is more appropriate speaking person to person. In my opinion.

Whenever someone says, "Thank you for your service." to me, I'm always like, Uhh, OK. Uhh, thanks.

It's nice to know that people care about vets, but it means much, much more to me when I'm recognized by another vet & we give each other a knowing nod of the head, or greet each other with, "Welcome home brother."

There’s always been something a bit awkward about the thank you for service to me personally. I served, but without any great distinction. I did a little combat, and that was an experience. Mostly I like to say that I spent some quality time in some real shitholes. But I didn’t join selflessly out of a love for country. I did it selfishly. I was looking for something out of the deal too.

In the end, my service was incredibly important in shaping the person I am today, but I don’t want it to be the thing that defines me.

I don't thank vets for their service. But when I see a mail carrier, I shake their hand and thank him for what he does. Then I proceed to tell him that being a mail carrier was the worst job I ever had in my life.

watch this.



Then think about "thanking or never again".

If it seems hollow and lacking, there is a reason why...

All I ever want is for people to live life with the understanding that all you have, was bought and paid for before you were old enough to understand.

Just be grateful, live life for it's fullness, be kind and decent, demand responsible behavior and accountability from yourself and others, and realize that you only have integrity once.

I've been spit at, and I've been (finally) thanked. I know what makes me less uncomfortable.

As a Nam Vet '65 thru '67 whenever someone says Thank you for you service, I find I have to bite my tongue so I won't tell them TOO LITTLE TO LATE.

I can remember on my return state side being called a baby killer and spat on. I wear nothing that could ID me a vet; I just want to be left alone.

I did 4 years USN enlisted. Yes, it is a little awkward being thanked but I respectfully respond with a “You are welcome”.

I was not involved during a time a war, but like EVERY other veteran, wrote that “blank check” that I would go, do and if need be die for this country. This is a commitment that I made and kept. “Here is 4 years of my life...” 24/7 for four years.

The thanks would mean more to me if the person really understood what he/she was thanking me for. That commitment that I will die for you, anywhere I am asked to go, anytime. Some understand it. Some will get it some day. Some will remain clueless.

I missed Vietnam by some months. When I meet a Vietnam Vet I will often say “Thank you for going”. We may have small talk, he often asks if I am a vet too. When finishing the conversation I will often finish my part by saying “Thank you for coming back too”. I know many went. I also know 57,000 did not come home alive. I am thankful for everyone that came back.

I am not embarrassed by being thanked.

Someone saying “never forget”? I would be confused about the intent of the comment. That indicates to me something like “we have a secret, you and me, we’ll never forget such and such”. I would find that strange. It would feel like you the civilian are saying you are like me, the veteran. Distinctly, clearly not the case.