Thank a Vet. It just might make their day....

[Geology Rocks]

Tonight I was at dinner with my wife when I noticed a man walking with a Vietnam Veteran hat covered in pins. I walked up to him and thanked him for his service and for the sacrifices he and his family made. I shook his hand as well. He paused and didnt know what to say. He looked stunned and almost looked like he was on the verge of tears. He thanked me about 5 times and told me I was a great man and that made his day. He was very proud of his service.

I personally try and make it a point to thank every service member I see whether they are in uniform or not. Those of you who have served or are serving. Thank you very much.

joe

[zteknik]

Tonight I was at dinner with my wife when I noticed a man walking with a Vietnam Veteran hat covered in pins. I walked up to him and thanked him for his service and for the sacrifices he and his family made. I shook his hand as well. He paused and didnt know what to say. He looked stunned and almost looked like he was on the verge of tears. He thanked me about 5 times and told me I was a great man and that made his day. He was very proud of his service.

I personally try and make it a point to thank every service member I see whether they are in uniform or not. Those of you who have served or are serving. Thank you very much.

joe
yup he's right-your a good man!
Not too many people nowadays give a personal thanks to the vets.
There was for a bit after the first gulf war people were appreciative towards there vets-but now it seems like the common people just realy dont care-too much brainwashing by the current administration I think.

I know for myself as being a vet if someone says thanks it realy makes it
makes my day-I usualy reply with humility and say your welcome and thanks for caring.
And I allways thank my brother and sisters in arms and tell them thanks for serving and making the commitment to try and save freedom[Beer]

[jplove71]

I personally try and make it a point to thank every service member I see whether they are in uniform or not. Those of you who have served or are serving. Thank you very much.

joe
Thank-you for saying thanks. I, personally, never served in combat but was Active Duty with the U.S. Army. Same brigade (different years) as zteknik, actually.

RAKKASAN!

I, too, make it a point to thank any Veteran that I see that served in a combat zone. They deserve it.

[Byte Stryke]

Thank-you for saying thanks. I, personally, never served in combat but was Active Duty with the U.S. Army. Same brigade (different years) as zteknik, actually.

RAKKASAN!

I, too, make it a point to thank any Veteran that I see that served in a combat zone. They deserve it.



peacetime or war
Door-kicker or supply technician
active duty or reserve

You raised your hand and took an oath to defend the constitution of the United States of America,
Thank You

[jscwerve]

Awesome what you did. How sometimes I've secretly wished for a thank you every single veterans day when I am working. I usually try to get all of us together for lunch that day at least.

Every time I ask the question why is that not a day observed by all. Don't get me wrong, there are true merits to labor and memorial day, but what of us that didn't participate in those momentous occasions? The poor slob that served because it was what its what we thought we should do?

[roberth]

I'm very grateful for their service and I let them know whenever I get the chance.

[Monky]

United States of America,


There Byte.. I fixed it for ya.. commie pinko bastard!

[airborneranger]

As an active duty bubba, I try to thank the "old timers" every time I see them, especially those who fought in Vietnam. Those guys didn't have the option to go or not go and they certainly weren't treated as we are now.

For those of you who thank veterans (young and old) thanks to you! [Beer]

[BlasterBob]

First off, I am NOT looking for any "pat on the back" here and I do this because I enjoy giving something back to my fellow Vets.
I am a volunteer driver of a DAV (Disabled American Veterans) van from Raton, NM to the VA Clinic in Albuquerque. I have been driving down there for about two years now. I have heard some really interesting war stories from some really great folks and I believe every one of them. This last Friday for the very FIRST time, twice as I was getting out of the van in the VA parking lot in Albuquerque, two Vets came over to me and gave me a huge "Thank You - we really appreciate your service for helping us Vets". That really made my day, getting a thank you from THEM. I told them that I appreciate THEIR service. As indicated above, I am NOT looking for any thanks you's and it makes me feel good to give something back to my fellow vets. If anyone here wants to help honor our Vets, be a volunteer driver of the various DAV vans to transport these guys and girls to their respective VA clinics. It will make you feel really good!! [Marine]

[BlasterBob]

Was kinda hoping that someone might just ask how they could possibly become a volunteer driver for driving OUR Disabled American Vets to their various clinics. Oh well, I'll go back to sleep now.

[Ronin13]

I get a little choked up every time someone comes up to me and thanks me for my service... and it seems I never know what to say to that. "You're welcome"? That just doesn't convey the emotion I get when someone is so supportive. I have had an instance at DIA where a little boy came up to me and said "Thank you, sir, for keeping me and my family safe from evil terrorists," to which I about cried, but managed to keep myself in check and gave him a salute, "It's all for great kids like you that I do it." Having been out for almost 2 years now I still see people who served or are serving (like the two uniformed Marines I saw a few weeks ago at the mall) and shake their hand and thank them. WWII vets get a special nod from me, they are too few these days.

As a disabled vet I help out the Wounded Warrior Project every chance I get, especially since a few of my friends got so much aid from them after their IED experience in Afghanistan in '09.

[UberTong]

My brother was coming into DIA the other night and before he got off the plane, the captain made an announcement that a few gates down a wounded Ranger was returning home from Afghanistan. My bro went down to the gate and stood there to welcome him. When my brother was standing there he heard what he thought may have been a wife/sister say "he will be coming off the plane in a wheelchair". The Ranger ended up walking off the plane and the crowd went nuts. My bro said he had tears running down his face watching the Ranger see his family. Good shit.

Also, thought this was cool of my brother. He said there was a guy behind the crowd on his laptop that seemed very bothered by the noise etc. My bro told him to get off his ass and show some respect or move.

[BlasterBob]

As a disabled vet I help out the Wounded Warrior Project every chance I get, especially since a few of my friends got so much aid from them after their IED experience in Afghanistan in '09.

Ronin, what exactly is the Wounded Warrior Project??

If anyone here wants a REAL humbling experience, just go to a VA hospital, sit in the main waiting room and watch the Vets from the various wars making their way to the various clinics. Be sure to take at least a small supply of Kleenex along with you because if you are anything like me, you'll be needing them.......

[Ronin13]

Ronin, what exactly is the Wounded Warrior Project??

If anyone here wants a REAL humbling experience, just go to a VA hospital, sit in the main waiting room and watch the Vets from the various wars making their way to the various clinics. Be sure to take at least a small supply of Kleenex along with you because if you are anything like me, you'll be needing them.......

Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit NGO that helps and aids wounded troops after injury sustained and assists in transition from Military to civilian life. Very great org and does a lot of good where a lot of VA and .mil aid falls short.
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

And I agree, I usually get a sick feeling in my stomach when I go to the VA Hospital from all the disabled vets (far worse than I) and think they shouldn't have to wait so long for care- but it's an overloaded system we're dealing with here. Some of those guys are the bravest and coolest people I've met. Including the Vietnam vet who I met not too long ago there with one leg, stage II cancer of the large intestine, and probably one of the most colorful military records (silver star with V device, 4 purple hearts, 3 AAMs, and 2 Vietnam Service Medals- meaning he not only went over there but did it 2x!)

[BlasterBob]

And I agree, I usually get a sick feeling in my stomach when I go to the VA Hospital from all the disabled vets (far worse than I) and think they shouldn't have to wait so long for care- but it's an overloaded system we're dealing with here.

Overloaded system is right....I just made my first scheduled appointment to see an Audiologist down at the VA in Albuquerque. Thought I'd get in for that appointment in a couple weeks but was surprised that the soonest I can get in is in the middle of October. My hearing was rather damaged back in 1955 due to test firing M1 Garands in an enclosed building with NO hearing protection of any kind. We were considered real "candyasses" if we even attempted to put some cotton in our ears. I hope such crap has changed a lot by now.

[Ronin13]

Overloaded system is right....I just made my first scheduled appointment to see an Audiologist down at the VA in Albuquerque. Thought I'd get in for that appointment in a couple weeks but was surprised that the soonest I can get in is in the middle of October. My hearing was rather damaged back in 1955 due to test firing M1 Garands in an enclosed building with NO hearing protection of any kind. We were considered real "candyasses" if we even attempted to put some cotton in our ears. I hope such crap has changed a lot by now.

Wow... glad you're not a "candyass!" [LOL] That goes to show the mentality of total BAMFs back then. Today that crap doesn't fly... try to go to the range without ear pro... I had to smoke the daylights out of a soldier who forgot earpro at my range! I took it easy after he pushed out 20 with ease, but gave him a nice verbal lesson that "you must be accountable for all your gear!" Can't do that with civvies though, I'd tell someone shooting with me to do pushups because they forgot ear pro they'd tell me to go eff myself. But then again, I wouldn't let them shoot if they didn't bring it.