Should people stop thanking Veterans for their service?

When I was on my way home from Afghanistan I was, unfortunately, traveling in uniform. I hate doing it, but it was all I had. I was at my gate at DFW. I think I was connecting through Atlanta or Charlotte. I can't remember. Anyhow, this nice older lady, probably in her 60s, approached me and gave me the hand shake and the thank you. She was one of the ones that you could tell was sincere in doing it. I returned her thanks with courteous appreciation despite the discomfort I always feel when I'm approached like that.

Fast forward to landing. I had been forced to check my carry on at the gate so when I got off the plane I had to wait for them to unload it and get it up to the ramp. The same lady was waiting for her bag as well. She saw me and smiled and approached me again. She held out her hand and said that she just wanted to thank me again so I went to shake her hand. I realized as I did that she was trying to give me money. I told her that while I appreciated her thanks and her generosity that I couldn't take it. She seemed a little hurt or something at first and the whole thing turned into a brief, courteous argument. I ended up telling her that the people that put the uniform on don't do it for thanks or rewards or recognition, we do because we want to and so that other people don't have to. I continued by saying that we do sincerely appreciate the gratitude that we're shown by folks like her but that our values don't allow us to take gifts like that. I ended the interaction by giving her a hug and thanking her for recognizing our sacrifices. She seemed pleased with that.

That was a moving article. When it first began after the Gulf War, I think people were shamed into doing it because of what happened to our Vietnam brothers and sisters. I think its reached a point of overload now where people think they are expected to do it and be reciprocated for it which makes a lot of us uncomfortable - especially where they are expecting you to "accept" something like money, SSG (Join to see) or a spot in line SFC William Laws to make them feel they have done their good deed. Like the article says, I think we need to make it a personal gesture towards someone we know and really make it count or donate to an organization or local VFW/American Legion. I know that money for those organizations during these times is always a welcomed, "Thanks".

I know I still and probably will continue to do it as a matter of "let's not forget" but I first introduce myself as a vet and thank them for carrying on the proud tradition, hopefully making them feel less uncomfortable.

This is a very interesting article. Rather than just saying an "empty thank you", I think people should think of why they are thanking us. I feel if they focus on the "why" more they will appreciate the results of what we do.