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

Here's the thing.. When someone thanks me, I think of all the Widows and families who gave up a mother or father / Son or daughter. Quite honestly a veteran who dies has a lesser price to pay than a family who has to go on without them, living years missing them.

This might not be a popular response, but it is one that I think about every time I am thanked, and depending on the situation, and thank them back and share those thoughts with the person who thanked me.

So I am officially thanking all the families of service members for their sacrifices. An encourage all my brothers and sisters to do the same if they have the chance.

yes It does but the problem with me is it's not so much the thank you for your service it's do they genuinely mean it because to me a lot of people say it but they really don't care

NO! Because we had a generation that previous to mine was maligned by these same folks I am always grateful and humble to get it. I in turn thank every veteran I see and make it a point to say something encouraging to them. By the way....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SERVICEMAN! God Bless you and your family!

I live in a small west Texas town and I get thanked for service every so often. Does not bother me as it is meant as saying thanks. Have never felt I was being asked to get out of the way.

SPC Buck,

Up until 9/11 one did not hear “thank you for your service” very often. For those veterans of my day or earlier we rarely heard it if at all. So to answer your question straight up: No, it does not bother me in the least to hear it or thank those that have come after.

My only exception is what you hear on the TV every time a service member or veteran is being interviewed. Seems they are being told “thank you for your service” as if being required to say it or they will get their hands slapped. Too often the thanks being said just seem very hollow. If you do not mean it don’t say it.

It doesn't bother me. I say it to veterans, active duty, reservists...basically, anyone who is identifiable as having served or is currently serving. That being said, the way I use it doesn't imply that anyone is done...at least I don't think of it that way.
BTW, I also say it to our firefighters and policemen, who (it seems to me) risk their lives everyday out here keeping us safe at home.
I fought in Iraq, I served in Bosnia, I did a tour in Kuwait, I've been to Hungary and Croatia. In no way do I think that our jobs, as soldiers is...or ever has been...safe. But, I think that the boys in blue have a much more dangerous job catching drug dealers, murderers, rapists...and sometimes not knowing who is even in a car that was just stopped running a red light or speeding....and they do it everyday, not just when sent overseas. I often thought that, at least we (as soldiers) new who the enemy was (in enemy uniforms). Yes, I know, that wasn't always the case...many times the enemy would be in civilian clothes, driving a Mazda truck or other blowing up a checkpoint or trying to gun down a convoy. But, while I was there, I had no qualms about shooting a civilian-looking person, who I perceived might be a threat (I tried to keep from shooting them if I could, but...). As a police officer it seems that there is in no way a line drawn in the same manner as it is drawn between (American Soldier, and not American Soldier).
But, I digress. My point is that I feel that it says "You're done." when saying "Thank you for your service." To me, it is just a way of saying, "Thank you. I appreciate all the hard work that you do and have done, and the life you laid on the line for our nation." But, I guess it is all in the way that it is said, when you are the one hearing it.

I agree. Just because we aren't still in doesn't mean we stop.

When I was growing up I watched the Vietnam war on the TV, and I saw vets get neglected and mistreated, so I would have to say NO, it does not bother me at all. I really appreciate that someone goes out of their way to actually recognize my service.

I see this as not something actually pointed at me specifically but to the Uniform. Thus, by replying or accepting graciously, I am allowing the person to give their respect to the Uniform. I never count it as something that I did personally. It is a greater presence that they are thanking.

The other side of this is what is the response to "Thank you for your service"... I make it a habit to respond with "You are welcome, It was my honor to Serve this Country." Because that is exactly how I feel. But the First time someone said it I hesitated at what to say, you have to think about it and so having a prepared response is best. It's awkward because you don't think about it as being something to reply to. Just MHO.

Must admit - the first time I heard it, I felt kind of like the wait-staff at a restaurant - maybe it just starts to grow on you after awhile. However, a simple "Thank you" or "Thank you for being there" would work well for me and am pretty sure it'd be suitable for those that HAD to be there during the Viet Nam era.

I did not serve with some grand idea, for me it was Plan C after A and B failed. I was more surprised than anyone that I loved it as much as I did. In the end, I served because I really liked my job and the life I had, even the crappy times gave me fond memories. But I am uncomfortable when folks give me the canned "Thank you, for your service.". It is unnecessary and now trite.