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

Depends on who's saying. I'm leery of when preachers, politicians, and car salespeople thank me for my service.

Interesting, I also find myself uncomfortable when someone thanks me for my service, but for a different reason. Thanking service members, active duty and veterans, is really a recent development – they didn’t thank us for anything when I got out in 1975. But the odd occasion when it does happen to me, I don’t take it to mean that I’m done and should just fade away.

Last year I had the honor of attending a Veterans Day celebration at my two youngest grandsons elementary school. My grandsons learned all of the songs for each branch of service and were instructed to invite any family members that were veterans. They have always been fascinated that their Mema was a soldier in the Army, so they invited me.

The morning started out with a pancake breakfast, then we moved into the gym where each veteran was called by name to come to the front of the gym and be recognized by the children singing their service branch’s song. I have to say I got all choked up watching/listening to all of those 1st – 5th graders singing, marching and saluting – my heart swelled with pride at being an American and being a Veteran.

It was a very special morning and it made me think about this very subject. I guess I’ve always felt slightly uncomfortable when anyone would thank me for my service, responding that I really didn’t do anything because I was a pencil pusher stationed at Ft. Knox, KY during Vietnam. But my son reminded me that I volunteered and I was available if they had asked me to go into a dangerous situation and I would have done it. He is right – I would have done it. And that's what they're thanking me for - that I was ready to make the sacrifice if needed. So now I’m a little less uncomfortable when I’m thanked for my service.

I think that if you are unable to take someone saying “thank you” in the way that it’s meant, you’ve got your own issue that’s getting in the way. I thank the older vets all the time and they always light up when they are recognized out of nowhere for doing something. The definition of service is accompanied by humility. If you don’t have that feeling and instead are craving some comic book tween fantasy that you haven’t yet achieved. Get over it.

I feel it an honor to be part of an elite brotherhood that has served this country and offered our lives on behalf of the American people. My response to a thank you for your service is "it was my pleasure." I don't find any resemblance of go sit down, but rather the opposite, stand up and be recognized. Many of us vets continue to serve in veteran groups, church organizations, teaching and scouting. Mine as well as many others on RP continue to serve in other ways after the military. We do it, because that is what veterans are about till we die.

I respond with "Thank you for your support". Seems to work out pretty good.

I am humbled by the recognition and typically respond with something along the lines of: "Thank you. It was an honor and privilege." I take this recognition as the compliment that it is intended with no hidden "old guy" meaning.

Although I actively served the USAF for 22 years, I do not consider myself old or out to pasture... yet...

Respectfully submitted.

Doesn't bother me and I usually respond with "It was an honor to serve." I sincerely doubt that anyone who made the comment implies that "your (sic) done go sit down and grow feeble." I can't tell you how many WWII, Korea and Vietnam vets I've thanked for their service through the years but I can tell you that I was absolutely sincere in my thanks every single time.

If the thanks you hear comes from a civilian who has never served a day and sounds "off" it may be because they are simply overwhelmed by the idea of someone giving so much and asking for so little - it's alien to the civilian culture and has the effect of making them sound sarcastic or insincere. Get past it and know that your service mattered and matters.

Not at all, I take it as an honor that someone would take the time to recognize my service and sacrifice. I don't consider it an insinuation of feebleness, even at 49 years old I'm still in the mix overseas as a government contractor. When someone thanks me for my service, usually accompanied by a handshake, I simply smile and say "It's my honor to serve, sir/ma'am."

I went to Kuwait, Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan (twice). I came home with no bullet holes, no injuries, no PTSD (that I am aware of), and more or less functional. So it used to embarrass me when someone said, "Thanks for your service", because I didn't suffer anything more than separation from my family.

I now respond, "On behalf of those who gave much more than I did, you're welcome."

I honor those who didn't come back whole like I did. Try it on. Maybe it will work for you too.

Hearing "thank you for your service" doesn't bother me but I've definitely seen sentiments that are more for the sender than the recipient. Also, if the country would really like to thank veterans, they should pay more attention to the rules, benefits, and pay scales that affect active and retired service members.

I would rather see people (average citizens and policymakers alike) thank us by making sure sick and injured Soldiers get good medical treatment, current Soldiers are compensated fairly for their skills, military leaders are held accountable for their actions, and retirees can live their lives with the dignity and respect they deserve.