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

Honestly people don't really know what to say other than that. It may seem empty from some and carry weight from others.

It does bother me. But a lot of it is my problem. I'll put in the caveat that the abuse that was doled out to Vietnam veterans who returned was abhorrant, and if the new culture of giving thanks to service members provides any solace to them than I am happy for it.

That being said, I'm never sure how to take it. Every time I hear "thank you for your service" it feels like an eternity before I can get the words "thank you" out. I find myself wondering why they said it. Most of the time I feel that people say it because they believe that they are supposed to "support the troops". Others I feel like they say it because they are sympathetic, and the rare few have insight, either because they have a loved one that went or because they have been themselves. The latter are the only ones I don't feel super awkward around.

The other thing I run into are those that want the "thanks" to breach into a conversation about my experiences and my thoughts about it:

"Oh, you're in the Army?" "Did you have to go to Iraq?" "Do you think we should've gone?" "Do you think there were ever WMDs?" "Have you been shot at?" "Did you see a lot of dead bodies?" "What was it like?" or "I'm glad there are people like you that go over there" "I could never do it" "I'm sorry you had to go" "are you ok now?" "

Most of the time I can behave myself and provide pretty neutral answers, and deflect away from the more intense topics. But there is the odd instance where someone will push too hard and I'll give them what they want, and they'll realize that they didn't want to know.

I suppose I should probably cut & paste this post to my shrink :)

As for the civilian population. When Some one says it to me , I kindly say" thanks, just doing a job."

No it does not bother me, I believe it is the appropriate response when given out of Respect to You for Service to GOD & Country!
I say let it alone and stop all this politically correct crap. That's what's wrong with things today. STOP THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS CRAP!
GOD BLESS THE USA!

Yespecially and no, I served because I knew I should for God and for country, I served during cold war and gulf war, but saw no combat but served, I think the thanks should go to those who lost something for our a or served and came back with scars or wounds no one can see.

I can remember the times when servicemen got spit upon by their fellow citizens. I remember demonstrators hurling bags of urine at soldiers. The first time a lady came up to me in a restaurant as I was sitting at breakfast in uniform and thanked me for my service, I nearly fell off my seat.
I have always believed in service to my country. That someone would have the courtesy to thank me ... it is an honor to receive that thanks. As a veteran and having served 30+ years in uniform, I am thankful that others.... perhaps .....are thankful for what those in uniform have done for their country. There is sacrifice in service and we should gracefully accept thanks.

I accept it graciously, then say "you're welcome" and drive on. In my mind the army did more for me than I did for it. Sure I deployed, but I never had to shoot anyone, never got blown up. We had a rocket that landed near the pods but it didn't explode, and a UXO exploded behind the TOC, but no one got hurt. Most of my unit made it back, and the one guy that didn't well... it really wasn't due to combat action.

I think it's great for the civilians and fellow service members to thank someone for their service. I have family members who served during the 60's and 70's and remember a much different attitude. Personally I kind of cringe a little because I don't believe that I have done as much as others have.

It did (and still does) make me feel a little uncomfortable. I seem to get it a lot because all my friends and family introduce me as a retired veteran of 26 years. I used to say "You're Welcome" but that always sounded a little egotistical to me. I heard a soldier say "Thank you for your support" and I must admit that I use that reply now and it sounds a little better to me and seems to make the person thanking me for my service smile as well.

For someone like me, in my position, yes. I am technically "prior service" for my "length" of service and I am technically considered a veteran, even though I have never served over seas. I don't correct a citizen when I am thanked for my service, but it does eat me up inside knowing I never got the chance to fight along side my brothers who have died.