"Thank you for allowing me to serve"

I do my best to avoid the topic or recognition as a Vet, but otherwise if thats unavoidable I just nod.

quote:

Originally posted by ulsterman:
"It was my pleasure"

Do you work for CFA?

flashguy

I think a simple thank you works. I know most of us Veterans loved what we did and would do it again in a heartbeat! My Navy days are some of the funnest times in my life.

"Thank you. Rock of the Marne."

I have folks say it frequently to me on duty, and say "It is my pleasure".

What I noticed was an increase of people saying it during the tenure of Barry the Red, when he released the dogs on all police. It's a good feeling to know so many people recognized his hate for law enforcement.

I’ve been awkwardly replying “thanks, it was my job. I’d do it again if I didn’t have to run 5-8 miles everyday.” You’re welcome sounds much better.

I say 'thank you, and thank you for your support'.

Say "I did my job - and I would do it again" !!

The way I was treated as Nam Vet; temped to say something like "Too Little, too Late" but I normally just nod and say nothing.

It bothers me as one of my high school friends died in Vietnam & I was unscathed. It bothers me as several of my Infantry OCS Classmates died in Vietnam & I never got shot at. It bothers me as I feel I did nothing special & only know 1 person of my high school class of 1963 that did not serve. I never was spit at or cursed, just girls seemed to keep their distance when I went back to college at age 24 after 3 years in the Army. I guess "thank you" is the only answer.

I also shop a lot at Lowes and realize there is a prompt on the cashiers screen relative to my military service which apparently they've been trained to respond to. I usually just humbly say "thanks" and move on. Every now and again the cashier will look me right in the eye with a big smile while saying thank you for your service. I give these folks a little more feed back.

Other instances where my service is noted, it's usually just thanks or your welcome. I don't want to engage in a long discussion on the subject, and I'm sure they don't either.

I got thanked while working the other day by an older gentleman wearing a hat that implied he was a Marine in WWII. Having never served in the military it caught me off guard and all I could think of to say was thank you. Afterwards though I wanted to say that he deserves a thanks way more than I do.

Today I was in a grocery store wearing a Marine Corps ball cap. A woman was running the checkout line and she said, "Thank you for your service..." (I'm tuning out)...and adds..."I appreciate your willingness to defend our country and our constitution."

I paused and thanked her for making her gratitude 'real' and say 'why' she was thankful. I've never had anyone do that part before, it made me feel good.

I typically say you're welcome and if it happens to be a fellow vet I thank them for their service.

On a tangent, when in a diner I've anonymously paid for meals of service folks in uniform, eating there. I always ask my server to tell them thanks from a grateful family. The last time I tried to do this the server informed me I was the third person to offer.

I too just simply say "Thank you". If I see a fellow vet (or whom I assume to be a fellow vet, wearing hat, t-shirt, etc), I always say "thank you for your service" to them as well. I find it very important to recognize my fellow brothers and sisters in arms, especially my elders who were most likely not thanked and appreciated in their time of service.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
I always simply said "thank you." But thinking about it now, perhaps "you're welcome" is more appropriate. Then again, the appreciation does goes both ways.

I was taught at a very early age to respond "You're welcome!" when someone said "Thank you" to me, and that's what I do in this case. I may add "I appreciate your support."

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
It embarasses me because it reminds me of all the guys, who were getting shot and I wasn't.

I also fall into that category. I just remember that the person who just thanked me has no way of knowing that.

flashguy

I'm like Garth when someone says "I love you".

If I see a member of the Older Generation (yeah, I'm in that group) wearing a ball cap or other clothing that identifies him (rarely her) as having served in the Army, Air Force, or Marines, I thank them, stating "even though it was in <name of service branch>," and add, after a very slight pause, "I was Navy." This usually ends up with a handshake and smiles.