Does it bother you to hear "Thank you for your service!"?

Actually, as I came through the Gates this morning the MP stated Thank you for your service, and Replied the same to him...his answer...just carring on where I left off.

Bother me? Not at all. Many people just don't have any experience or know anyone in the military. They don't know exactly what to say, so they pick this line that they've heard. At least they're trying.

Sometimes. Especially from law enforcement because they serve also. I don't ask for, or usually accept the discounts or attention. There are soldiers (many of them kids)
down range right now who don't know if they'll make it home. They deserve the attention more than I do. My time passed.

It doesn't so much "bother" me to be thanked for my service, because I know that the sentiment behind it is one of respect and gratitude.

It DOES, however make me kind of befuddled at how to respond because it is the career I chose, and I feel that I am good at it. I don't do this for the praise, or medals, or the money (although getting paid twice a month is always a good thing). I do it because I honestly think there is a "Patriot Gene" in my family that compels us to serve (my 17 year old son just enlisted for 11X, and will go to BCT in August) and thus I do it for our country and for the sake of giving back. So when someone thanks me for my service, I usually manage to either say "thank you for your support" or "it's what I do" if I am caught off-guard.

Never decline gratitude or respect. Those are two things that are hard to come by these days.

I served during Nam and I remember being advised not to leave the air terminal in uniform when I flew into Washington DC. Being connected to the service was a negative then.

While it doesn't bother me a bit to hear, "Thank You for your service," it still feels strange to hear it after such a long time of nothing being said. There's another part of feeling strange to hear the thanks and that's because those who didn't come back or came back partially are the ones who really earned it the most. So, I gracefully accept the thank yous for those absent souls.

How did that photo get there, I don't recall putting one up definitely do not have that one!?

When the statement is serious, rather than perfunctory, absolutely not.
But, most of the time is isn't.

Yes, it bothers me and always has. If fact, it makes me sick. No one told us that back late 60's or early 70's. In fact, many of us suffered the effects of Honorably serving our country. I was never spit on, but I did lose a shot at working for Southern Railroad because they said my hearing was bad. I told them they had not even administered a hearing test. They said it didn't matter, if I flew on helocopters I Must have lost some hearing. That was just a way to pass over me. Also had a college history professor named Krueger that failed me on a test. When I showed him in the book word for word that my answer was right, he just shrugged and said "Too Bad." He, in years later was featured in a news article about discriminating against vets in his classes and he bragged about it. So when I hear the words "Thank You For Your Service," it conjures up all the crap I went through. An apology should be made to those of us that served 40 or 50 years ago. Just saying the words don't mean anything.

Bother? I find the comment rather condescending. I was a professional soldier with 23 years as enlisted and as an officer. I was, for many years, well compensated and continue to be with a nice pension and benefits.

No one thanks the mail carrier who spent 23 years delivering the mail in all kinds of weather.