that feel as I do about the dreaded "Thank you for serving". I honestly thought it was just me that felt awkward whenever I heard those words uttered. What the hell do I say to that? Umm, you're welcome? Thank you, for what? On the other hand, would you fellow vets out there rather see people being dicks to you? I had one experience where one of my wife's friends asked me what I did for a living and I told him that I was in the Army. His response was "Oh, I feel sorry for you" (he was french btw), I was 5 seconds away from beating the guy into the ground (ptsd was in full affect by this time). So while "Thank you" is definitely awkward, it definitely beats someone calling you an asshole warmonger with no moral compass or something to that effect.

Just say "thank you" back. It's short and easy then you can go back to whatever you were doing.

Love the sticker - I have to find me one of those. But I hate putting stuff on my car, so nevermind.

I honestly don't see many veterans in uniform in my area but I have sent over a round of drinks once or twice. Besides friends and classmates in the military I think I would find it awkward to go up and say tank you. Personally I prefer to donate time and money to groups like the USO and Wounded Warriors. After reading some of these posts it seems like the best policy.

I'm a 53 year old guy who has said "thank you" to service members on occasion. In my case the motivating impulse has been a general sense of gratitude and basic empathy, not blind patriotism. My dad and son are combat vets.

I sat next to Pete Rose on a Southwest flight recently and had the basic decency not to bother him with chickenshit. I generally leave people alone. In hindsight, I have to wonder how I managed to be less considerate of the service members who've crossed my path.

I agree with COL Turk's sentiment. It IS an honor to serve. I don't think I deserve to be thanked for anything. I do get paid for this afterall. Its a fullfilling job and even fun sometimes. But when I've been thanked, by both strangers and people I know, I think they are sincere, and I appreciate their support. Honestly, it usually catches me offguard a little. I'm aweful at quick replies so I usually just say "Thank you" back. I like, "Its an honor to serve." Maybe I'll say that next time - if there is a next time :)

BTW, I try to thank police officers and firefighters when I see them in restaurants or otherwise in uniform but not involved in an emergency. Maybe they feel the same as some commenters on this blog. Most just smile back and say something nice in return.

I like that answer. I've always said "Thank you" in response, and that feels like it comes across artificial and forced, an acknowledgement that they're thanking me is akward. I think I will adopt the "It's an honor to serve."

I'm a bit ambivalent on this having gone through different scenarios. I spent Desert Storm I doing a deployment in Central America doing things I was not allowed to discuss in public. I came back after That little war ended and saw all the yellow ribbons and banners hanging, but no one at the airport to greet me. It felt a bit lonely coming back from a deployment I wasn't allowed to even talk about, taking a cab by myself from the airport back to my base, while several friends got the ticker-tape parade treatment.

Now I'm on my 7th deployment, the first time I really got the "rockstar" treatment was in Dallas this summer coming home for mid-tour leave. It was kind of cool to have people clapping, but when they shake your hand and say "thank you" all I could do was say "thank you" back with the emphasis on the "you" part. I admit I felt embarassed.

I've never been very good at accepting any kind of attaboys for what I believe is just me doing my duty. I volunteered for this, I knew what I was getting myself into. I don't feel particularly special. The people who need to be thanked are my family for putting up with this. They are far more special for enduring hardships they never asked for and never receiving any recognition for it.

every time I've said 'Thank you' or 'Thank you for your service'.

COLTURK's comment and the original 'Yellow Ribbon' essay now make my silence seem a much better option than uttering heartfelt words.

It's hard to think your good intentions are paving someone's road to hell - or some such poetic aphorism.

Still, there's plenty of non verbal - and non yellow ribbon/stickers - ways to thank and support the Troops and their families...and I'm sure that's apppreciated, right?

I have found through most of my time in the military that Kipling generally said it best. I carried his 'Complete Verse' with me during my first tour. Good reading and I am convinced it could stop a bullet. On this issue he again sums up my experience.

For myself, I know that I am currently 'Mr. Atkins', but I have been 'Tommy' and expect to be him again someday. It out of some perverse sense of self protection that I reply to gratitude with pat answers, conceived in advance, and handed out without conviction.

The text of 'Tommy' follows.

TOMMY
by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

I am reminded of hearing a woman complain about a photo of a marine smoking. She said it was a bad example to her son. I shook out a Camel and lit it before saying, "We aren't something you want your son to grow up to be."

Cruel, flippant, and definitely not PAO approved. A good reason she should use firemen as examples.