Would you rather not receive the, "Thank you for your service" refrain?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I feel awkward when someone says, "Thank you for your service". First, there are guys , who put their lives on the line, and some lost them, while I never was anywhere near combat. Those men merit all the thanks. Plus, getting a letter from the President that starts out with "Greetings" had something to do with my enlistment.
Also, one of the comments some vets in this forum say they wish the "Thank you for your service" would go away.
Would you rather not receive the, "Thank you for your service" refrain?
 

Speaking as one who never served, it does seem awkward. It's almost like some hand signal like a "thumbs up" carries appreciation without embarrassing the recipient.
 

It is a little bit awkward, while appropriate, it really doesn't say enough. It's like something you would say to the pizza delivery guy. Most of the guys my age had no say in being sent off to Vietnam to face a death lottery in a pointless war. Maybe, "I apologize," would be better? I don't know, I didn't serve. I've had friends who experienced intense combat, and all I could offer was understanding. None of them asked for more.
 
Many years ago, when Rosey The Riveter became the symbol of the estimated 6 million women who joined the workforce to make parts for airplanes, ships, and munitions, my mom worked in the foundry doing just that. Those guys flying the planes placed a great value on the work being done by those women and everyone to keep them safe and eventually make them victorious.

It takes a lot of moving parts to make the military function and be successful in whatever they are engaged with. To feel one part is more important than the other is a wrong view IMO.

Giving up 4 or more years of your life is no small sacrifice, no matter what your part was. When people thank me for that, I find it to be very kind.

Rosey The Riveter.jpg
 
I don't wear anything on me stating that I'm a military / VN vet but I do have an Okla. VN veteran tag on my pickup and most if not all of the 'thank yous' I receive are from people pulling up next to me at a stoplight and rolling down their windows or as I'm walking across a parking lot after exiting my vehicle.

I got the VV tag for me just to show that I'm proud to have served not for any verbal recognition.

Sample tag;

ovvtag.jpg
 
Other than Home Depot & Lowes where I get a 10% discount for my Viet Nam era military service no one knows. And when buying something at either of those it's only when checking out with a cashier is faster is a thank you given to me.

I never really thought about this. The frequency is so minimal when thanked, I thank them.
 
I think originally, it was said and meant to sincerely thank the veteran for serving their country and keeping us safe. Now it seems more like an empty platitude and almost cringeworthy. Best to just treat the vets respectfully and treat them like any other person you are speaking with. Just my opinion.
 
Nathan said:
I don't wear any of the gaudy ball caps or T-shirts but I do have a window sticker on my truck:

View attachment 414997
At the gym there are several guys I talk with, mostly veterans. One guy that's a Korean War vet told me "thank you for your service", and I thanked him for his.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your service, Nathan.

Whenever I go out I grab a baseball cap at random (I have like a thousand of them). One day I grabbed a C-130 Hercules U.S. Air Force hat. People from all directions stopped me to thank me for my service.

Well, I couldn't take the hat off because my hair was a fright, and I about lost my voice confessing to people that I did not serve , and I had no right to wear the hat, but I was wearing it accidentally and it was not my fault.

I was so touched! I want to bawl just remembering all those people who stopped me to say thank you
Anyway, I never have, never will let a vet get away without thanking him! If I'm a nuisance, then so be it.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I feel awkward when someone says, "Thank you for your service". First, there are guys , who put their lives on the line, and some lost them, while I never was anywhere near combat. Those men merit all the thanks. Plus, getting a letter from the President that starts out with "Greetings" had something to do with my enlistment.
Also, one of the comments some vets in this forum say they wish the "Thank you for your service" would go away.
Would you rather not receive the, "Thank you for your service" refrain?
Click to expand...

Thank you for your service, Fuzzy
 
bobcat said:
Many years ago, when Rosey The Riveter became the symbol of the estimated 6 million women who joined the workforce to make parts for airplanes, ships, and munitions, my mom worked in the foundry doing just that. Those guys flying the planes placed a great value on the work being done by those women and everyone to keep them safe and eventually make them victorious.

It takes a lot of moving parts to make the military function and be successful in whatever they are engaged with. To feel one part is more important than the other is a wrong view IMO.

Giving up 4 or more years of your life is no small sacrifice, no matter what your part was. When people thank me for that, I find it to be very kind.

View attachment 414903
Click to expand...

Thank you for your service, Bobcat.
 
Knight said:
Other than Home Depot & Lowes where I get a 10% discount for my Viet Nam era military service no one knows. And when buying something at either of those it's only when checking out with a cashier is faster is a thank you given to me.

I never really thought about this. The frequency is so minimal when thanked, I thank them.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your service, Knight
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top