OT Show Gratitude

wow, Mary, someone did that to my son at an airport some years ago.(He was in his Marine uniform) he just nodded and we went on our way. i never knew what that meantand didnt think to ask. thank you.

amy in CNY

you're welcome

Hi Mary,

I've always just come out and said it, to heck with being awkward! But thanks for the tip. ;-)

Doc

You're welcome.

That's cool - I hadn't seen that before. Along those lines, I want to share what happened to DH over the past couple of weeks. He was serving in the Honor Guard for a deceased veteran (WWII or Korea, I'm not sure which). Prior to the service, one of the attendees commented on one of the badges DH wore on his uniform and said he had that one as well. DH asked if he had been in Viet Nam, and the man said no, he'd been in WWII. DH told the man he didn't look like he could be old enough to be a WWII veteran and then said he (DH) had served in Viet Nam. With that, the man looked at him, made a kind of indignant sound, and said words to the effect of, "Well, if you didn't serve in WWII, then you didn't serve in a war." He told me later it had been a long time since anyone had been so nasty about his serving in Viet Nam - and he didn't like it any better now than he did years ago!

Contrast that with a few days before that when he went to the library, but it wasn't open yet. He saw a young man (about 13) sitting on a bench and asked if he could join him. They struck up a conversation, talking for about

15 minutes. During that time, DH mentioned he had been in the service. Bless his heart, the boy asked if he'd been in Iraq. DH laughed and said no, that he was too old for Iraq and that he'd served in Vietnam and that he'd been career military. Before long the doors opened, and they went in to the library and on their separate ways. About 10 minutes later, the young man searched out DH again and said, "I'm leaving now, but before I do, I want to thank you for your service." Wow, DH was about blown away. He's always made it a point to approach service members and thank them for their service, but for a 13-year-old to do that really meant a lot to him.

The WWII vet is ........... I won't write what I think. God bless that 13 yo.

Oh, I love this! Our son has 19+ years in the Army and has been in Iraq twice and Afghanistan once. I get teary everytime I see a service man or woman. My husband was in the Viet Nam war and I never thought my son would have to go to war. HIstory just keeps repeating itself and it doesn't get any easier to say goodbye, wether it's to a husband or a son. Thank you so much for posting this. Donna

You're welcome, Donna. My husband's number didn't come up for Viet Nam and our sons did not join the military. Thank your husband and son for me.

Thank you for the link. I often come across active or retired service members at work, and I always try to say "thank you for serving". My only nephew enlisted in the Army in November 2008 and is now in Korea. His mother [my little sister] just cannot wrap her mind around it and resents his choice. How sad she doesn't say "thank you", that because of our service people we live in a society where we can basically express our opinions freely.

Ginger in CA

You're welcome. How sad for your sister. :( I met two women in Oregon. One told me about the other. Woman/mother #2 had 2 boys. One was in the military. Second said he was going to join the military after 9/11 and she said she would disown him if he did. He did. Now she says she has one son and she is saddened that he doesn't allow contact with his children.

tell her that her son being in the military, no matter how dangerous, is better than what i got. there is a good chance he will be ok and come home. my son didnt give me that option.

4 months ago today and the pain persists from deep inside me somewhere. :(( j.

"maryd" wrote... You're welcome. How sad for your sister. :( I met two women in Oregon. One told me about the other. Woman/mother #2 had 2 boys. One was in the military. Second said he was going to join the military after 9/11 and she said she would disown him if he did. He did. Now she says she has one son and she is saddened that he doesn't allow contact with his children.

I think one of the toughest parts of being a parent is dealing with the children and the choices God gives us. It is really tough sometimes. I grew up in a family that had a extremely tragic gun accident. I hate guns with every part of me. Having a son who not only has one but has had to use one in his work is still something that I struggle with. I accept it I guess but in my heart of hearts I wish he would do some other work. Your nephew is really not the only one serving. In her own way his mama and loved ones serve too. Our hearts follow our children where ever they go. In this country and other free ones we are lucky to have those brave enough to protect us. May God bless and protect them as they take care of us. Taria

Ginger in CA

On vacation in Tennessee, we were close to a table where there were 8 marines in uniform. During breakfast, we watched the gratitude. One by one, the Harley guy, the farmer, the trucker, the granny, the daddy of messy toddlers, the honeymooners, the server... came by and said 'thank you' and shake the hands of the young men. No conversation. A lot of heart. We don't know if they ever got to eat breakfast or not but they surely knew that they were appreciated. Polly

thanks, Taria. hugz to you as well, j.

"Taria" wrote... Warm hugs to you jeanne. Taria

My sister refused to assist him in the interviews, or help him get to the recruiters. When he left for bootcamp she stayed home and he left on his own. What I don't understand is how she would rant about him not working, and that he was underfoot. When he decided to enlist, she so against it. I think she is manic.

G> I think one of the toughest parts of being a parent is dealing with the > children and

I retract former statement. she is plain selfish and nuts. Is there any reason we all have a nutty sister? Taria

G> I think one of the toughest parts of being a parent is dealing with the > children and

yea, i have a nutty sister too but then no doubt she'd say the same about me. oh well. j.

"Taria" wrote... I retract former statement. she is plain selfish and nuts. Is there any reason we all have a nutty sister? Taria

In my family, I am the nutty sister. However, I am a nice nutty, not a hurtful nutty. Every family should have one to keep the rest of you from getting too settled in your ruts. Turtle