Thank you for your service??
I recorded the video for this one a while ago and kind of sat on it..and sat on it, and got to the point where I totally forgot that I filmed it until a couple days ago.
So now that Veterans Day is here, it seems fitting that this post should go out today. I don’t know why I was reluctant to post it in the first place. I guess it just seemed that it might be too controversial or that my views are not the norm for veterans. But then I ran across this article and saw that I wasn’t the only one out there.
https://amp.businessinsider.com/veterans-share-how-to-thank-them-for-their-service-2015-11
I would feel uncomfortable when people thanked me for my service in the military. To me it was just another job even though it was cool and I could possibly be killed, but nowadays a person could get killed for simply going to the wrong movie theater or place of worship (I’ll save that for another blog post).
If anyone needs to be thanked for a serviceman or servicewoman’s service it needs to be their families. They are the ones who are making the sacrifice and if they had their choices then I’m sure they would easily have their loved one be at home instead of harms way. Also those who ultimately gave their lives need to be “thanked” by remembering why they lost their lives in the first place. I don’t feel the need to be thanked and if someone does feel compelled to go out of their way to thank me then it can be done in more meaningful ways.
Get to know the veteran. Ask them what they did while they were in. Ask them why they joined in the first place. Some of us didn’t have any other choice and some of us wanted to get out of doing anything substantial. So blanket thanking of veterans isn’t usually the best choice. Talk to us. We’re people too.
Happy Veterans Day!
Seems to be the thing to do nowadays. Maybe to be the opposite of what we’re told the Vietnam vets experienced. Social issues are complex and controversial. I never really did anything exciting in my life. I love every minute hearing about your experiences, how young you were when you started out, the planes, the stories no one else I know has experienced and are willing to talk about. I can’t imagine being strong enough to hold down the fort so to speak, during tours. I even know a woman who’s marriage became extremely rocky during something they call recruiting duty or something like that. Apparently, it is quite awful. I am grateful there are people like you and yiur family willing to do these things. So, at least on Veteran’s day, thanks to you and yours for being who you are.
Thanks, Cathy! I grew up in the military so I keep having to remind myself that not everyone’s life is the same as what I had and for some, seeing a veteran or active duty military member can be a novelty and exciting experience. It was totally the opposite for me where interacting with civilians was rare when I was a kid.