Veterans Day
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I've got a new reply (to "thank you for your service") that I heard 2nd hand from a MOH recipient's speech (my friend was in attendance)! Just recently heard this and slightly modified it to my liking....
"Thank you for your service."
Reply: "Freedom is worth it."
"Thank you for your service."
Reply: "Freedom is worth it."
I like it.
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That comment needs to go away. It has just as much thought put into it as the common greeting “hi, how are you”. I’d venture to say 99% of the people that say it don’t give a damn how anyone feels.
I agree. I believe it is a compelled social convention. They say it because everyone else says it. They don't really MEAN it. It's not a spontaneous comment that comes from the heart. It's more of a contrived platitude.
That said, I don't want to be rude in return or tell them what I really think.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPquarz16wQ
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I honestly can’t speak for anyone else, but my “thank you” was always genuine, “look them in the eye” warm, honest gratitude. Since being here and around many of you and hearing your feelings on the other end, I’ve pulled back. I’ll either give them a thumbs up or simply mind my own business if that’s the way they feel about it.
Doesn’t change that I’m thankful for each and every every one of them, and you all.
I know my BIL, and deceased FIL, both NAVY, didn’t have a negative attitude about being thanked whatsoever. Go figure.
Doesn’t change that I’m thankful for each and every every one of them, and you all.
I know my BIL, and deceased FIL, both NAVY, didn’t have a negative attitude about being thanked whatsoever. Go figure.
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Yeah, when I got retired in 83, NO one said anything about my service. It was still too close to Vietnam for people to even care about the military.
Most people thought I'd wasted those 4 years, 7 months, and 11 days, or just ignored me.
To be fair, I did not talk about it a lot, as we learned early in my enlistment to not emphasize being in the military.
That may have been due to having too many Vietnam veteran friends though...
Most people thought I'd wasted those 4 years, 7 months, and 11 days, or just ignored me.
To be fair, I did not talk about it a lot, as we learned early in my enlistment to not emphasize being in the military.
That may have been due to having too many Vietnam veteran friends though...
To be clear... I don't have a negative attitude about it. It's just that it's SO common and SO automatic... it's a cultural reflex at this point. I don't think it's meant in a negative way. I'm just observing that it's on cultural auto-pilot. They say it automatically, because they're SUPPOSED to say it. (See the CYE video posted above.) And they all say exactly the same thing... it's literally scripted. The exact same words.
It's certainly well-intended. I do not have any doubts about that. And I AM proud of my service.
It's just weird in a way because it's so reflexively uttered by any and all people who happen to discover you're a veteran. I have long felt awkward about a "proper" response. But I've always felt I should acknowledge it as sincerely as possible. I've always just said "thank you," but replying to a "thank you" with another "thank you" just didn't sound right. So for years I've struggled (and failed) to come up with a better answer... until NOW. Just recently my friend told me about a speech by a MOH recipient who actually mentioned this specifically.
Freedom is worth it! Perfect! It only took me 32 years to find it!
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I don’t believe the comment is meant to be negative and people generally think it’s the “right” thing to say, it’s just not well received in all cases. People know when it’s said from the heart. I’ve not felt that from anyone as of yet.
Military are not the only ones that feel uncomfortable.
A few months ago a local EMT/Fire fighter stopped by and asked if he could take a few photos of our front door. He was doing training on emergent access to homes. We have a Victorian house with uncommon double doors that is fortified with metal reach rods that go into the floor. We were chitchatting about fire training ,he said “thank you for your service” I returned the comment , thanks for yours. We both laughed, he looked at me and said Yeah, that was awkward. Sorry, it’s just a habit. We are just doing our job and don’t need to be thanked 100 times a day. I agreed- it’s very awkward for me too.
Something to think about
Not all had a great experience. Some were forced (drafted) & some are not proud of what they had to do. Recruiting can be a sneaky business to make quotas so some had no idea what they really signed up for.
Service members (military, fire, police, medical) that have traumatic experiences during their service have a different perspective than the general population. War in general, killing a person, burned, mangled / badly injured bloody bodies, loosing a limb change the psyche. These people may not feel so positive about- thank you for (getting fucked up in the head during) your service. May also cause anxiety, depression or other psychological issues.
IMO that comment was thought up by some “woke” person for the perception of inclusiveness
Military are not the only ones that feel uncomfortable.
A few months ago a local EMT/Fire fighter stopped by and asked if he could take a few photos of our front door. He was doing training on emergent access to homes. We have a Victorian house with uncommon double doors that is fortified with metal reach rods that go into the floor. We were chitchatting about fire training ,he said “thank you for your service” I returned the comment , thanks for yours. We both laughed, he looked at me and said Yeah, that was awkward. Sorry, it’s just a habit. We are just doing our job and don’t need to be thanked 100 times a day. I agreed- it’s very awkward for me too.
Something to think about
Not all had a great experience. Some were forced (drafted) & some are not proud of what they had to do. Recruiting can be a sneaky business to make quotas so some had no idea what they really signed up for.
Service members (military, fire, police, medical) that have traumatic experiences during their service have a different perspective than the general population. War in general, killing a person, burned, mangled / badly injured bloody bodies, loosing a limb change the psyche. These people may not feel so positive about- thank you for (getting fucked up in the head during) your service. May also cause anxiety, depression or other psychological issues.
IMO that comment was thought up by some “woke” person for the perception of inclusiveness
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Great comment and thoughts. Spot on.
To the vets out there that don't mind affirmation, Thank You for your Service!
To those of you I just offended, I apologize.
To those of you I just offended, I apologize.
No offense at all.To the vets out there that don't mind affirmation, Thank You for your Service!
To those of you I just offended, I apologize.
It's just weird, especially for total strangers to just say it because you're wearing your favorite ship's hat.
I've actually smiled and said, "I just like the hat," when I'm feeling playful.
Occasionally I'll wear this hat WHICH I FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 10yrs ago. It was brand-new so why not wear it? I don't usually wear hats except to keep the sun out of my eyes. I've been told "thank you for your service" to which I reply "I'm sure they appreciate it but I'm not an agent. Think of it as like my 'team' hat, like a Buc's hat, and by wearing it, I'm showing support for them."
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I’d think it’s a far cry better than the treatment our military peeps recieved after returning from Vietnam!
To understand a Military Veteran you must know:
1. We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an unknown adventure.
2. We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives.
3. We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew.
4. We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth.
5. We found new friends and new family.
6. We became brothers and sisters regardless of color, race or creed.
7. We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times.
8. We didn’t get enough sleep.
9. We drank too much.
10. We picked up both good and bad habits.
11. We worked hard and played harder.
12. We didn’t earn a great wage.
13. We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of missing important events.
14. We didn’t know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again.
15. We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all.
16. We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
17. Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn’t.
18. Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn’t.
19. Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare.
20. We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can’t fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical.
21. We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie.
22. We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all.
23. We have dealt with victory and tragedy.
24. We have celebrated and mourned.
25. We lost a few along the way.
26. When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all.
27. We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.
28. We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don’t experience, and few will understand.
29. We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.
30. We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.
Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away. It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift.
People see a Veteran and they thank them for their service. When we see each other, we give that little upwards head nod, or a slight smile, knowing that we have shared and experienced things that most people have not.
So, from myself to the rest of the veterans out there, I commend and thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for your country. Try to remember the good times and make peace with the bad times. Share your stories. But most importantly, stand tall and proud, for you have earned the right to be called a Veteran.
(Copied from unknown author)
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A lot of truth there!
1. We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an unknown adventure.
2. We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives.
3. We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew.
4. We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth.
5. We found new friends and new family.
6. We became brothers and sisters regardless of color, race or creed.
7. We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times.
8. We didn’t get enough sleep.
9. We drank too much.
10. We picked up both good and bad habits.
11. We worked hard and played harder.
12. We didn’t earn a great wage.
13. We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of missing important events.
14. We didn’t know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again.
15. We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all.
16. We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
17. Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn’t.
18. Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn’t.
19. Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare.
20. We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can’t fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical.
21. We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie.
22. We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all.
23. We have dealt with victory and tragedy.
24. We have celebrated and mourned.
25. We lost a few along the way.
26. When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all.
27. We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.
28. We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don’t experience, and few will understand.
29. We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.
30. We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.
Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away. It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift.
People see a Veteran and they thank them for their service. When we see each other, we give that little upwards head nod, or a slight smile, knowing that we have shared and experienced things that most people have not.
So, from myself to the rest of the veterans out there, I commend and thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for your country. Try to remember the good times and make peace with the bad times. Share your stories. But most importantly, stand tall and proud, for you have earned the right to be called a Veteran.
(Copied from unknown author)
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A lot of truth there!
I just saw this. I like it. It's true! Wearing my ship's hat has started a lot of conversations with other veterans, including some who served on the same ship.
Then there's this! LOL!
Then there's this! LOL!
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Tell him to hold out his cover (hat) while walking down the aisle so they can throw money into it for his "performance".
Oh, he isn't in uniform. They're not even allowed to travel in uniform... been that way for a LONG time.Tell him to hold out his cover (hat) while walking down the aisle so they can throw money into it for his "performance".