"Thank you for your service."

[thetalady]

Interesting thread & something I have long wondered about. I see a lot of soldiers at the DFW airport. How about saying something there? They are in uniform & obviously deploying in or out. If they are clearly concentrating on getting somewhere, I don't bother them. If they are not in a hurry, I sometimes say something or at least smile & mouth "thank you".

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by thetalady

Interesting thread & something I have long wondered about. I see a lot of soldiers at the DFW airport. How about saying something there? They are in uniform & obviously deploying in or out.

This isn't the case. My brother is in the Army and he's only had to wear his uniform while traveling by air once - when he was going from basic training in SC to his advanced training in AZ.

He actually didn't even need to wear his uniform when going to Iraq. The requirement to wear a uniform while traveling depends on multiple factors, and it can also vary by military branch.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I would not initiate a conversation for this purpose, but may add it to an existing conversation. For example, I ride the Metra line that goes from the naval base to downtown, and I get asked for directions a lot when riding on weekends. So, at the end of the conversation, if someone thanks me, I'll respond with "no, thank you" or something like that. I think that acknowledging military service is as good as any other pleasantry with which someone ends a conversation.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I would not initiate a conversation for this purpose, but may add it to an existing conversation. For example, I ride the Metra line that goes from the naval base to downtown, and I get asked for directions a lot when riding on weekends. So, at the end of the conversation, if someone thanks me, I'll respond with "no, thank you" or something like that. I think that acknowledging military service is as good as any other pleasantry with which someone ends a conversation.

This also seems ok to me, and doesn't make for an awkward situation. Like with the bar example I provided earlier, if they thank you for something first, I don't think it's awkward to say it back.

But I would never make it a point to go up to someone I've never talked to and say "Thank you."

[WCsweet<3]

I wonder if there is a correlation between children of maltreated vietnam veterans and the gushers.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

I wonder if there is a correlation between children of maltreated vietnam veterans and the gushers.

.. or even between Vietnam protestors and the gushers.

(maybe they had a change of heart)

[thetaphirose]

I do on very rare occasion. It's rarer now that I moved out of a base town and rarely see men or women in uniform. The one I used to hear occasionally that really bothered me was when someone would start up with "No one appreciates what you guys do..."

Really? No one?

[dekeguy]

One thing to remember is that we have an all volunteer military, regular and reserve/guard. No one expects thanks for doing the job we all chose to do. If I see a soldier in uniform I will nod but not engage in conversation unless there is a reason to do so. On the other hand, if I see a soldier or a veteran who is wounded I will often say something like 'tough break man, but thanks for laying it on the line when it counted".
dekeguy
MAJ, USAR