Posted on Nov 11, 2013
Do civilians really understand veterans or are they really sincere?
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We, as service members and veterans, often find ourselves on the receiving end of thanks for our sacrifice and for serving. I never really thought about it until a very witty SFC told me a story once. When told by a passer by we support you he asked how? The passerby was caught off guard and could not answer that because he did nothing more than just a brief statement.
I don't think that this was the more tactful way to respond but it made me think. The SFC was a great NCO and I still look up to him. But he was simply tired of the hollowed words. Civilians really don't understand what we deal with in combat and when back home of the struggles. The mere "Thanks" is appreciated but yet we here comments of their support. Very few actually support soldiers or veterans with any tangible results. It seems similar to cheering for the Super Bowl Champions because that is what you think you should do but in reality don't even know what city the team of from.
I don't think that this was the more tactful way to respond but it made me think. The SFC was a great NCO and I still look up to him. But he was simply tired of the hollowed words. Civilians really don't understand what we deal with in combat and when back home of the struggles. The mere "Thanks" is appreciated but yet we here comments of their support. Very few actually support soldiers or veterans with any tangible results. It seems similar to cheering for the Super Bowl Champions because that is what you think you should do but in reality don't even know what city the team of from.
Honor
Selfless Service
Gratitude
Military service
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 24
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Meh. I didn't join up to be thanked by strangers- honestly it kind of irritates me, though I know it shouldn't. I think about the guys that I served with who didn't get to come home. I think that those that take the time to, say, volunteer at the local VA or even sit down and talk to (particularly older) veterans are much more likely to be sincere than the guy that sees you in uniform and comes up and thanks you. When I look at some of the issues that are facing returning veterans (unemployment for one)I have a difficult time believing that the sentiment is sincere. I can't escape the nagging belief that the majority of civilians view us more with fear than anything else- due largely to what seems to have become a predominant belief that all veterans are damaged and likely to go off at any time. Of course, I could be completely wrong.
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I again with you about the false thanks and how it irritates you. I came back from Iraq in 2010 to being unemployed for 18 months. No one wants to hire the Guard guy. I had to recently utilize the ESGR to get my job as they didn't hold while I was training for IBOLC. I now have a deployment coming up and now I don't think I will return there. I am very weary about how they treated me.
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The lesser of two evils, is sometimes the best course of action. Wen in battle, you do what would result in less casualties while at the same time accomplishing the mission.
As such, "lip service" respect, is better than no respect at all.
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Interesting question...I am from the generation (Viet Nam Vet), where "thanks" from civilians was almost non-existant. Now the people of my generation are all over themselves with "thanks" for our Military. Do they mean it now, as opposed to what they said previously...for today's Veterans, I am glad that things have changed, however I can not accept the hypocracy of all the nay-sayers of yesteryear.
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I could only imagine what you would have returned to when you came back. I came back from the invasion of Iraq and I was like a rock star. Getting a job was easy. I would just drop the Iraq Vet and I was in. People would introduce me as an Iraq Vet. It was odd but I was appreciative. Thanks for your service. You led the way for us now a days.
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Sir, when it comes down to it the only thanks that mean anything to me are the ones that come from my family. They are the people I joined to fight for. In my life I've had many people "pay their dues" just because I was in uniform or because they thought it would make them look good. People need exterior things to make them feel better about their lack of involvement. We fight the physical battles so that they can fight the political ones to keep our rights and freedoms while we are away. To be honest they fail on their end of the deal and their way of coping with it is to say "thanks for your service". Like you said there are people who really do support us but as far as whether or not it is lip service I wouldn't worry about it. Keep those personal people in mind that you fight for and let their genuine gratitude wash away the empty thanks.
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