Sad but fun

[Caster]

I love joking and cutting up. I pride myself on being an amateur smartaßß. Tomfoolery ranks high with me. I like messing with people as long as there's no harm, foul or insult.

It really sad, I mean PATHETIC what I have found.

Messing with young veterans by saying to them "Hey, I appreciate your service, thank you."

I do this as often as I recognize them and it's always the same response..."huh?"

Young (20-25) Marine comes into the shop today. I notice the tats and the stickers on his car so I ask him, where did you serve and what did you do? He told me where in afghanistan he went and what infantry unit he was in. I shook his hand and told him "I never served. I was born and raised a coward. I do however appreciate guys like you that risk life and limb so I can continue my "hide under a rock" lifestyle." All the while with a sly grin on my face. He was kinda taken back. It was fun to see the expression on his face.

The flip side to this, he told me how no one...NO ONE ever told him thank you...not a stranger anyway. Now I'm not one to start swearing and being vulgar but WTF???

I don't think we as citizens should bow down and kiss their feet, but every single oxygen breathing organism within the borders of this country owe each and every one of them a "Thank you" It should be a mandatory civic duty.

Often my mind wanders and I can forget what's important sometimes so let me play catch up.

†††Caster††† thanks each and everyone of our service men and women. I pray that GOD keeps you safe and well.

[hipower]

Amen, brother!

[SALK]

I agree with you whole heartedly!!

[Raoul]

The American people have no stake in the wars being fought today. We've not been asked to sacrifice one damn thing. War is just another story on these crappy entertainment programs we call news. We as Americans are nothing but a bunch of fat cows sitting around watching sports and reality TV and thinking this is the real world.

The sad part is these young vets are used to getting no recognition.

rant over.

[Guest Bluemax]

Castor, By God, we need a man like you in office !!

[Caster]

Castor, By God, we need a man like you in office !!

I'll use this for my campaign!

[Guest Bronker]

Castor, By God, we need a man like you in office !!

No...trust me...you don't.

Keeping in line with this sentiment, I make it a point to go to a serviceman in uniform and thank him. I then say "God bless you and your family." If he's at a restaurant, I have the waitress bring me his ticket, and to take him one that says "God bless you. This one is on me." It's nice to watch him look around trying to pick off who did it. I just stare at my food. I don't want him or anybody else to know what we did. EXCEPT for my children. I want them to see me do this, and I always explain what a sacrifice these guys make on our behalf. I want them to know patriotism, and to exercise it.

Now my kids spontaneously walk from me and go over to them. It does make me proud.

Anyway, my $0.02

[Caster]

No...trust me...you don't.

Keeping in line with this sentiment, I make it a point to go to a serviceman in uniform and thank him. I then say "God bless you and your family." If he's at a restaurant, I have the waitress bring me his ticket, and to take him one that says "God bless you. This one is on me." It's nice to watch him look around trying to pick off who did it. I just stare at my food. I don't want him or anybody else to know what we did. EXCEPT for my children. I want them to see me do this, and I always explain what a sacrifice these guys make on our behalf. I want them to know patriotism, and to exercise it.

Now my kids spontaneously walk from me and go over to them. It does make me proud.

Anyway, my $0.02

That's the ONLY way to give. The ONLY way.

Matthew 6:3

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth

[Sandman]

Everytime I'm at a restaurant and see a person in uniform, I will tell my server that I want to pay for their meal without them knowing who is doing it. My little way of thanking them.

[MacGyver]

The American people have no stake in the wars being fought today. We've not been asked to sacrifice one damn thing. War is just another story on these crappy entertainment programs we call news. We as Americans are nothing but a bunch of fat cows sitting around watching sports and reality TV and thinking this is the real world.

The sad part is these young vets are used to getting no recognition.

rant over.

Raoul's right. We're really conducting this war with the average citizen having little or no skin in the game. What does our average citizen care? It doesn't affect them in the slightest. No one is asked to sacrifice. No one is asked to give.

It's really saddening.

[hornett22]

I thank them all the time. many times i get a shocked look response at first but always a thank you.

[mav]

Raoul's right. We're really conducting this war with the average citizen having little or no skin in the game. What does our average citizen care? It doesn't affect them in the slightest. No one is asked to sacrifice. No one is asked to give.

It's really saddening.

I disagree with you guys on several points. A majority (although a slight one) of americans have plenty of skin in the game. They are the taxpayers. As far as sacrifice goes, yes, nobody is being asked to sacrifice, they are being forced to. The ones that I am talking about being forced to sacrifice is our kids. They are the ones going to be saddled with paying this ever increasing debt (wars cost too). That is what I find sad.

As far as you guys recognizing and thanking our soldiers when you see them, that is very honorable. I wish more people were like you. For those who do it secretly, as in the case as Bronker mentioned, that is just plain awesome.

Sorry to be such a sour puss. I have just become so cynical of our own federal government over the last several years.

[Guest Bronker]

...I have just become so cynical of our own federal government over the last several years.

You're not alone, brother.

[Fourtyfive]

I thank everyone I see in military uniform.

[Guest Eagle One]

I want to thank all of you that take the time to thank a member of our military for their service. I spent 21 years in the Air Force from 1962 until 1983. I did not pull a tour in Viet Nam. I got orders for a remote site in Alaska and had to leave my family at home. My wife went to an apartment complex in the St. Louis, Missouri area to try and find an apartment. She decided to take one and the lady manager was filling out the paper work. The manager asked my wife if she was married and my wife said yes, the manager asked where is your husband and my wife said he is in the Air Force stationed in Alaska. At this time the manager tore the application up and stated that we don't want your kind in our building. Needless to say this hurt my wife deeply. During that time frame that was the standard treatment of the United States Military. It was around 2006 or 2007 time frame at a ceremony honoring the Military at our adopted childrens elementary school that someone said to me personally thank you for your service.

[Guest Bronker]

Well, thank you. And, welcome home!

I want to thank all of you that take the time to thank a member of our military for their service. I spent 21 years in the Air Force from 1962 until 1983. I did not pull a tour in Viet Nam. I got orders for a remote site in Alaska and had to leave my family at home. My wife went to an apartment complex in the St. Louis, Missouri area to try and find an apartment. She decided to take one and the lady manager was filling out the paper work. The manager asked my wife if she was married and my wife said yes, the manager asked where is your husband and my wife said he is in the Air Force stationed in Alaska. At this time the manager tore the application up and stated that we don't want your kind in our building. Needless to say this hurt my wife deeply. During that time frame that was the standard treatment of the United States Military. It was around 2006 or 2007 time frame at a ceremony honoring the Military at our adopted childrens elementary school that someone said to me personally thank you for your service.

[Murgatroy]

This thread makes me feel slightly better about the state of affairs.

Then again, most of us here believe closely the same, or at least similar.

I never served. I am a brat though. My mother and father were both brats. I have the utmost respect for those that have served, and I am disappointed in myself for having not served.

I am thankful and appreciative of those that protect our country, and I wish there were more out there that were appreciative.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I try to shake the hand of every man in uniform I see. I also offer to buy them lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee. Almost every time they refuse the offer but seem glad to to atleast get the recognition.

Realistically people should be crowding them and worshiping them rather than the newest reality tv star or hollywood celebrity. After all without the sacrifices of our servicemember's and their families none of us, and I mean not a single person in this country, would have what we have today.

I never mention to them I was in the service or that I am walking on my crutches because of injuries sustained in a war zone.

I will say something else that I have noticed and that is disturbing. There are a lot more fakes and phonies than there has ever been before, in real life as well as on the internet. I have quite a few stories of people I have proven were fakes. Being in the military myself I have a spidey sense when it comes to figuring out those who are stealing our hero's valor. I have had young kids as well as people in their 60's claiming ot be something they are not. In almost every instance I request their service records. It isn't that hard to get someone who bloats to tell you their name, what branch and where they enetered. That is about all you need to get a service record. After I have my evidence I confront them in the most outward way possible.

The biggest indicator someone is a fake is when they make sure to let everyone knows they were a SEAL, sniper, Special Forces. Rarely do you hear real ones bragging about it. I always felt sorry for the support folks like the cooks, clerk or supply. They could be assigned to a cush job in a nice area then change units and find themselves in a unit that deploys all the time.

Dolomite