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

I have always felt uncomfortable for two reasons. Thanks and recognition are fine. They are just trying to show their appreciation. But when you feel extremely uncomfortable and are on alert just for being out in a crowd. It makes it very uncomfortable when total strangers single you out and walk up to you. Especially when you are with your family. The first time my son was 3 three and we were at the county fair. I had only been out for 4 years and a man came up to thank me. Positioned himself between me and my son. I had to exercise a lot of self control and and grumpily informed him that he is between me and my boy.

The other reason is that I just did what I felt I needed to do. It wasn't for thanks or praise or even recognition. I just did the job. I completed the task that needed to be done. So it always felt like why are you thanking me? I didn't do anything special. Just did my job.

Over the years I have been working on my anxiety issues. I am still uncomfortable out in crowds but now when they come up I try to be polite and receptive. But when my family I still find myself on alert more so.

A little, only because I have not been deployed anywhere. I appreciate their support and am filled with pride, but it sometimes feels like getting paid without working.

People only say thank you because it has been iterated on TV, I got a guy that says it to me every week when I go to the store or on a daily basis, better than during Vietman when I got spit on

No, but I wonder the response I should come back with. Do I say "your welcome"? "Anytime?" Or "thank you" thanking them for thanking you. It's tricky. But I do say thank you

I remember when I came home from Vietnam in 1971. Nobody was at the airport to greet me. No marching bands. People walked past me like I was faceless and did not know that I had just came from a combat zone. Nobody said thank you. My family was just glad I was home safely. They were the only ones.

When Desert Shield/Desert Storm hit, I was one of those that really supported our military as they began an armed conflict. Thankfully, their conflict did not last that long. They came home to cheering crowds and a vast amount of pats on the back and accolades on their victory. I did not begrudge anything they received. On the contrary, I was thankful for their appreciation. However, deep down inside of me. I said "where was mine".

Then 9/11 hit. America was attacked! Patriotism was abound. Our military responded and our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines performed admirably.

Even the VA did a paradigm shift on how Veterans were being treated.

When I look back on all of that. I say to myself. Finally, people are telling us Vietnam Veterans "Thank You". Does it bother me to hear that? NO! I am grateful for it!

The only reason it bothers me currently is because I haven't done anything. I don't have a CIB and I'm still just a fuzzy. I'm not sure how I'll feel about it in the future but whether the wording is wrong, it is still heart warming that people recognize the military in a positive way rather than calling us "baby killers".

It did bother me at one time. I know that I served but I never went in harms way, never got shot at, never watched my comrades die in battle or end up maimed for life. I always thought that "Thank You For Your Service" should be reserved for those who went through those things.

Then I realized that the average citizen can't tell who you are necessarily by what you wear and with the way the current wars were fought a lot of people who normally would never go in harms way volunteered for augment assignments in combat zones. People appreciate military service and honestly I now appreciate being thanked for my service.

You Rock!

Just wondering I know this topic is selfish and over the bounds of good taste, but how many down votes did it get out of 755 votes? Thats awesome to see that even tho the discussion Is horrid to you the voter it bares, notice that it is viewed by you thru your comments a validation of sorts that no questions are bad till not asked... How's that strike ya???

It does not bother me to hear it. I feel good to hear people actually acknowledge you for putting in all those hrs to keep this country strong and free.