quote:

Originally posted by redleg2/9:
I am not comfortable with it and usually just nod my head in response.

When people first started doing this, my thoughts were "It's about 50 years too late." If they were my age, my thoughts were: "And what were you saying fifty years ago?"
I enlisted, not drafted, and wonder how the guys with "US" before their service number feel.
I think that if you want to approach someone who is wearing a service ball cap, this is fine, but the only time it comes up for me is when I get the discount, or calls from Tri-West or the VA.
I am more comfortable without this public awareness politeness, because that is not why I served and just seems trite.
OK, blast away, because I realize that sometimes an honest response is not that popular.
.

I agree. Back then we had to fly in uniform. There were enough problems that the military dropped the requirement. My wife specialed a baby from Germany to Walter Reed. Going back, she was accosted at the airport and cornered by protestors yelling "Baby killer." She was saved by an SF sergeant.
Being told the "Thank you ...." makes me uncomfortable. I remember when it was curse words and spit.

I also say, You're Welcome, but I did it to better myself!

I just say "You're welcome"--it is what I was trained to say when someone thanked me.

I was not special in my 20-year service and was never shot at, so I don't feel I really deserve any special treatment, but it is nice to know that some people are thankful for the military and what they (collectively) do. And when they express that thankfulness, it is appropriate to make a proper response.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
I simply say thanks.

Same here. That said I've stopped wearing my retired Navy hat as it almost feels like I'm soliciting such when wearing it now that thanking vets has become de rigueur.

One of my vehicles has a USMC plate but only because it is free. I did not get that plate on the other two. Other than that the only way anyone would know is if they asked me.

One of mine has a retired Navy frame for the rear tag. I've removed a couple of magnetic ribbons that espoused supporting troops, etc. They attracted anti-military jackwads when on the road. I've mentioned it before but near Denver was the worse. As a septuagenarian and with laws prohibiting my simply being able to shoot such scum on sight, I've adopted a relatively lower profile.

As an aside its the same reason I won't wear a MAGA hat or a pro anything conservative T-shirt as I'm just too old to engage snearing brain dead libtard socialists.

I always say “thank you” or “you’re welcome” in response. (Lowe’s also prints a thank you to veterans on their receipt).
And I say it to fellow veterans I encounter- many (heck, most) who had much more challenging service situations than myself.

I used to have a license plate frame on my land rover that said “submarine veteran”. One day in the very liberal Northeast I left a rural store with my three-year old to find some CT rich kids (CT plates on mommikins’ shiny new BMW) trying to scrawl something anti-SUV on my hood.
When I yelled at them and asked what they were doing they started screaming at me and broke an antenna off of my roof and ran for their car. (Scared my son which I did not appreciate).
I noticed as they peeled out of the parking lot that they had a “Arianna Huffington” bumper sticker on their car.

Since then I sanitized all of our cars.

I try to thank veterans who seem approachable. The best response I ever received was from a Korean War vet I stopped to thank at a Burger King.

I said, "Excuse me Sir, I just wanted to say thank you for your service."

He smiled, stuck his hand out to shake mine, and said "Thank you. Did you ever serve?

I said "No Sir I didn't."

Still shaking my hand he leaned forward and with a wry grin said, "Well son, you didn't miss anything."

I guess that this is an American thing. I DO have a veterans' pin, but I wear it on one of my shooting jackets, not my everyday outdoor clothing. Mrs tac also served - she was a nursing sister in the RAF.

Here in yUK nobody gives a square root of sweet f**k-all that you served or didn't, anyhow.

Discount for ex-military? Are you kidding me?

We never adopted the habit here of having car licence tags with anything on them except the numbers, not window stickers or even fender stickers, but then if you had done so, for over thirty years there was a good chance of getting a bomb under your car to help you on your way.

If asked what you did in life - I was in the Army for thirty-three years - the response is often something along the lines of 'got sent there by a judge dijja?' or 'couldn't you get a real job?'.

Best not to mention it, in all honesty.

tac

Reading my last post reminds me of a little story from a friend of mine, now gone to the Great Parade Square. He was a Royal Marine in the sixtiess through to the late seventies, and served four tours in Northern Ireland, where things were pretty interesting, to say the least.

He and a few friends were in a pub one afternoon, celebrating the birthday of the Royal Marines as an organisation [28 October 1664], when a few Hooray Henrys and Henriettas noticed them and began making some kind of unpleasant remarks about their collective ages. The biggest there looked over at Chris and asked him what they were celebrating, and he replied, 'We are celebrating the birthday of the 'finest military organisation yet devised by the wit of man' - a quote from a military writer sometime in the last century. 'So I reckon that makes you the afterbirth, right?' quipped the [t]wit.

Wrong.

Chris, who left both eyes and a leg somewhere in County Armagh one fine summer's day, reached up out of his wheelchair and punched his lights out.

'No' he said - 'It makes me a Birthday Boy.'

RIP C/Sgt C W P Powers MM MiD RM

Tac, speaking of what attention is or is not paid to veterans and those who sacrificed I was in London a number of years ago in early to mid November. I stopped at a stand across from Parliament and for I think 2 pounds more (at the most) purchased a lovely enamel poppy pin instead of the oversized paper ones (or whatever they are made of).

1. There were so many people that I as visiting that were amazed, and usually grateful, that I would honor the fallen.
2. I remain amazed, given the lack of general support for the military and how understated most expressiveness seems to be in the UK how so many in the press and media will sport the typical, large, cheap ones.

I still have my enamel poppy to this day.

quote:

Originally posted by Rinehart:
I always say “thank you” or “you’re welcome” in response. (Lowe’s also prints a thank you to veterans on their receipt).
And I say it to fellow veterans I encounter- many (heck, most) who had much more challenging service situations than myself.

I used to have a license plate frame on my land rover that said “submarine veteran”. One day in the very liberal Northeast I left a rural store with my three-year old to find some CT rich kids (CT plates on mommikins’ shiny new BMW) trying to scrawl something anti-SUV on my hood.
When I yelled at them and asked what they were doing they started screaming at me and broke an antenna off of my roof and ran for their car. (Scared my son which I did not appreciate).
I noticed as they peeled out of the parking lot that they had a “Arianna Huffington” bumper sticker on their car.

Since then I sanitized all of our cars.

I was too young to understand how anyone could do or say or think bad of a Veteran. What I do know is I would show my bad side if I ever witnessed it. I might be getting older but I got a short fuse for wrong. Thats putting it nicely.

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:

If asked what you did in life - I was in the Army for thirty-three years - the response is often something along the lines of 'got sent there by a judge dijja?' or 'couldn't you get a real job?'.

Best not to mention it, in all honesty.

tac

That attitude exists over here people just hide it better.

I think 9/11 is what really started the "thank you for your service" trend. But I am younger so I am not sure how it was in the 80s/90s.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
Tac, speaking of what attention is or is not paid to veterans and those who sacrificed I was in London a number of years ago in early to mid November. I stopped at a stand across from Parliament and for I think 2 pounds more (at the most) purchased a lovely enamel poppy pin instead of the oversized paper ones (or whatever they are made of).

1. There were so many people that I as visiting that were amazed, and usually grateful, that I would honor the fallen.
2. I remain amazed, given the lack of general support for the military and how understated most expressiveness seems to be in the UK how so many in the press and media will sport the typical, large, cheap ones.

I still have my enamel poppy to this day.

Thanks, Chuck. The Royal Marine I noted in my post above used to make those paper poppies as part of his give-back scheme.

Bless your kind heart.

tac

Just say; "Your welcome."

"Someone has to be dumb enough to get shot at."

It doesn't happen to me often because I don't bring it up except on rare occasions. When it does, I just say "thanks" and let it go.

When asked if I served in Vietnam I just say "no, I just had to put up with stupid hippies in California" because I spent most of my time at Ft. Ord.

Jim

Anymore I feel a little odd. I say thanks, but wonder if you're welcome is better. I think I'll adopt something from the above.

I mean I did it because I thought I should because I was able to because others were doing it for me. It wasn't fair I was back here and they weren't.

Friends from High School were already set to go on that damn wall. But I never thought or expected anyone to thank me for it. it's kinda nice but...

I do like my Veteran license plate, too.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Just say; "Your welcome."

+1

Also, consider the person offering their greeting. How do non-service people approach a vet or active duty service member? When I see someone in uniform and the opportunity presents itself, I will thank them. But it can be a little awkward.

"It was my pleasure"

I don't say "You're welcome" because honestly I didn't do it for anything but selfish reasons. I wish that I had felt some great calling or something but honestly I just thought it would be cool.

For that reason, and the fact that I was never shot at or deployed, I am also not super comfortable with people thanking me. However I understand and accept that it is a side effect of my accepting free shit in the form of a license plate. If it bothered me too much I would simply ditch the plate and never take advantage of any offered discount. I think if you accept any form of discount for your service then you have to be willing to graciously accept any thanks that may come your way.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
I simply say thanks.

Same here. That said I've stopped wearing my retired Navy hat as it almost feels like I'm soliciting such when wearing it now that thanking vets has become de rigueur.

Stop right there.

You wore the uniform.

Wear the hat and don’t ever think you’re soliciting for anything anymore.