g5000
Diamond Member
- Nov 26, 2011
- 127,175
- 70,925
- 2,605
Speaking to the vets right now because I want to know if I am the only one who feels the way I feel whenever someone says that. "Thank you for your service."
I can't even explain the feeling, really. But when someone says, "Thank you for your service", it feels about as sincere to me as when a grocery story cashier says, "Have a nice day."
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure some of the people thanking me for our service experience some real emotional gratitude whenever they stop to think about the men and women serving out there in some great, mystical, unknown otherwhere. But it's all foggy, Hollywood shit in their heads, for the most part.
But at the moment they are saying the phrase, it is just a reflex. At least it feels that way to me.
I'd rather they said nothing at all, and I guess that is what I am wondering. If any other vets feel that way when they hear it.
I draw as little attention to my service in the real world as possible. I did joing the VFW, but have never gone to the meetings. I did let myself get talked into going to some Veteran's Day thing some pseudo hero worshipping organization put on a few years ago. Well, actually I signed up to go, and they told me they were making some pseudo-medal thingamabob to hang around my neck that would be presented in a special ceremony to all of my state's vets who signed up to go.
I didn't go. I skipped it. Somewhere out there is a medal on a ribbon with my name on it.
Every year, at Veteran's Day, that same group puts up a bunch of flags in an empty field, and they set up a trailer welcoming vets, and they try to get them to come the ceremony.
Every year.
And some go.
And whenever we drive by that setup, I am asked why I don't go. And I am unable to verbalize why I don't.
Am I the only one?
I never mention I'm a vet in public. But if someone who knows me mentions it to someone, they invariably say, "Thank you for your service." It's automatic.
For those who are not vets who might be one of those people who says, "Thank you for your service", it's okay. I'm not one of those guys who looks down on people who have not served. I don't demand to know when and where someone served if they voice an opinion about the military or our wars. I do not think less of others for being smart enough to avoid serving.
Anyway. That's it.
Veteran's Day is coming up and I am keeping a low profile. I'm not taking a proferred poppy and putting it on. I would not be able to take all the thank you's. Know what I mean?
But it would be nice to know I am not the only one.
And if anyone knows the word for the feeling I feel, I would like to know what it is.
.
I can't even explain the feeling, really. But when someone says, "Thank you for your service", it feels about as sincere to me as when a grocery story cashier says, "Have a nice day."
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure some of the people thanking me for our service experience some real emotional gratitude whenever they stop to think about the men and women serving out there in some great, mystical, unknown otherwhere. But it's all foggy, Hollywood shit in their heads, for the most part.
But at the moment they are saying the phrase, it is just a reflex. At least it feels that way to me.
I'd rather they said nothing at all, and I guess that is what I am wondering. If any other vets feel that way when they hear it.
I draw as little attention to my service in the real world as possible. I did joing the VFW, but have never gone to the meetings. I did let myself get talked into going to some Veteran's Day thing some pseudo hero worshipping organization put on a few years ago. Well, actually I signed up to go, and they told me they were making some pseudo-medal thingamabob to hang around my neck that would be presented in a special ceremony to all of my state's vets who signed up to go.
I didn't go. I skipped it. Somewhere out there is a medal on a ribbon with my name on it.
Every year, at Veteran's Day, that same group puts up a bunch of flags in an empty field, and they set up a trailer welcoming vets, and they try to get them to come the ceremony.
Every year.
And some go.
And whenever we drive by that setup, I am asked why I don't go. And I am unable to verbalize why I don't.
Am I the only one?
I never mention I'm a vet in public. But if someone who knows me mentions it to someone, they invariably say, "Thank you for your service." It's automatic.
For those who are not vets who might be one of those people who says, "Thank you for your service", it's okay. I'm not one of those guys who looks down on people who have not served. I don't demand to know when and where someone served if they voice an opinion about the military or our wars. I do not think less of others for being smart enough to avoid serving.
Anyway. That's it.
Veteran's Day is coming up and I am keeping a low profile. I'm not taking a proferred poppy and putting it on. I would not be able to take all the thank you's. Know what I mean?
But it would be nice to know I am not the only one.
And if anyone knows the word for the feeling I feel, I would like to know what it is.
.