Posted on Nov 9, 2022
Do you think veterans who seek validation on Veterans Day are overdoing it?
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I am stationed at Fort Benning. I have been in a few areas but I think this one is pretty saturated with veterans. I don't really mind but sometimes it gets out of hand. I don't own a single military shirt that I wasn't issued. I try to look like a civilian when I am not at work. Not many really do that around here. I mind the mistake of going to walmart on the way home and a person was staring at me. I made the mistake of making eye contact. He rode up to me with his clothing covered military symbols of his past service and asked if I was a Ranger. I told him I went to Ranger School. He then told me that he was a "real badass" in his day. Another day I was at a event for families on past. I was a older gentlemen with 5.11 pants and tactical jacket with airborne patches. The hat matched the patches. He was well off in age.
I understand being proud of your service. I can't recall getting a free meal, besides an MRE for my service. Do you think some just take it a bit too far?
I understand being proud of your service. I can't recall getting a free meal, besides an MRE for my service. Do you think some just take it a bit too far?
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Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 16
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I think Fort Benning is a vortex of wannabe badasses, even more than Bragg. Benning is the home of combat arms, so every retiree will either tell you how they were a Ranger/Sniper/Infantry, or how they almost were. A lot of those guys are hanging on to the tough guy they were in 1985. I guess the area just attracts that type of person.
Personally, I don't think we are entitled to more than our paycheck. It's cool that we get some nice perks, but four years of your life shouldn't entitle you to 10% off Home Depot for the remainder of it. I appreciate that some places give out free meals on Veterans Day, but I didn't earn it and most people in service today didn't either.
I think for a lot of people, this is the biggest thing they've ever done. As one smart person once told me, you're as big as your biggest problem. Some people are as big as building wells in Africa or teaching new soldiers to shoot. Others are as big as their free breakfast not coming with free drinks.
Personally, I don't think we are entitled to more than our paycheck. It's cool that we get some nice perks, but four years of your life shouldn't entitle you to 10% off Home Depot for the remainder of it. I appreciate that some places give out free meals on Veterans Day, but I didn't earn it and most people in service today didn't either.
I think for a lot of people, this is the biggest thing they've ever done. As one smart person once told me, you're as big as your biggest problem. Some people are as big as building wells in Africa or teaching new soldiers to shoot. Others are as big as their free breakfast not coming with free drinks.
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CPT (Join to see)
I do agree that Benning is a vortex for stuff like this. Just about every bus driver that picks up students tells me about their previous career. I do like the quote saying that you are big as your biggest problem.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I thought you had to be retired or former military in Columbus just to get a job :^).
Don't feel bad about taking a discount at Lowe's or Home Depot (or wherever). Having worked in that side of the Construction Industry also, I will point out that the Vet Discount is as much an advertising gimmick to get you to spend your money there as it is about respecting your service. Hell, they give you 5% if you use their credit card.
And I'm with SFC O'Mally, I'll whip out all the cards and my fishing licenses if I am booking a motel. What may be a revelation to some, but most of the time Hotels.com has better pricing than you get with the military discount.
Don't feel bad about taking a discount at Lowe's or Home Depot (or wherever). Having worked in that side of the Construction Industry also, I will point out that the Vet Discount is as much an advertising gimmick to get you to spend your money there as it is about respecting your service. Hell, they give you 5% if you use their credit card.
And I'm with SFC O'Mally, I'll whip out all the cards and my fishing licenses if I am booking a motel. What may be a revelation to some, but most of the time Hotels.com has better pricing than you get with the military discount.
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1. For some people, being a veteran is all they have. To you and me, it’s a part of what what we were. There’s worse things they could have glammed on to to get through the day.
2. As for the free/discounted stuff. When it first came out, it appeared to be a more genuine offering. Now it’s more of a marketing tool. Giving out a free meal with the probability that family is going to tag along is not a bad plan. Not only are you getting the associated paid meals, but you may get customers that had never been to your establishment (hopefully to return again). And if they tip at the non free rate, then your service staff is covered too. Same with the discount. Getting someone to concentrate their purchases at your store for a 5-10% discount is another tool in retailers belt. Plus all the great press.
Last, for some, this free meal may be the only “dining out” meal they get for a while.
So to summarize, yes, I see a lot of the “over the top” stuff, but unless it’s stolen valor, I don’t pay much attention. I figure they have other things going on with their life.
2. As for the free/discounted stuff. When it first came out, it appeared to be a more genuine offering. Now it’s more of a marketing tool. Giving out a free meal with the probability that family is going to tag along is not a bad plan. Not only are you getting the associated paid meals, but you may get customers that had never been to your establishment (hopefully to return again). And if they tip at the non free rate, then your service staff is covered too. Same with the discount. Getting someone to concentrate their purchases at your store for a 5-10% discount is another tool in retailers belt. Plus all the great press.
Last, for some, this free meal may be the only “dining out” meal they get for a while.
So to summarize, yes, I see a lot of the “over the top” stuff, but unless it’s stolen valor, I don’t pay much attention. I figure they have other things going on with their life.
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Do some? Sure. You'll find assholes and special little flowers in every group of large enough size. Even elite groups, specialized groups, etc. Whether we are talking Dominican Nuns (and I *highly* respect that particular order), SF guys, offshore oil riggers, kindergartens, Buddhist monks, or anything in between.
I have no problem at all with people who are proud of their service. Not even with folks who are so proud they insist on displaying it. Not even with folks who that is ALL they have done with their life.
I do, however, have a problem with people who insist that A) *I* be proud of their service, or B) their service entitles them to anything other than their VA benefits (and a retirement check, if they made it that far).
I never ask for military discounts*, but I happily take those freely offered or advertised. Because that is what my personal sense of ethics says is the right answer.
*Except for hotels. Then I trot out my military ID, my VA ID, my AARP card, my AAA card, my student ID, my badge for my state government job, my AT&T contract, and my certificate of nobility (I am a Scottish Laird - only by technicality, but they don't need to know that.) I'm SAVING that $5 dammit.
I have no problem at all with people who are proud of their service. Not even with folks who are so proud they insist on displaying it. Not even with folks who that is ALL they have done with their life.
I do, however, have a problem with people who insist that A) *I* be proud of their service, or B) their service entitles them to anything other than their VA benefits (and a retirement check, if they made it that far).
I never ask for military discounts*, but I happily take those freely offered or advertised. Because that is what my personal sense of ethics says is the right answer.
*Except for hotels. Then I trot out my military ID, my VA ID, my AARP card, my AAA card, my student ID, my badge for my state government job, my AT&T contract, and my certificate of nobility (I am a Scottish Laird - only by technicality, but they don't need to know that.) I'm SAVING that $5 dammit.
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