Posted on Nov 12, 2023
How do you respond when someone says "Thank you for your service"?
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I've never asked this question, and I've never seen anyone else ask it, but I'm curious. What do you say when someone thanks you for your service?
My Military ID is right next to my driver's license and debit card in my wallet, so it's visible if I have to show my driver's license for something or if I'm taking my debit card out to use. Very often, someone who sees it will ask what branch I was in. Then they will thank me for my service. My usual answer is "Thank you for your support." But I'm curious about how others respond to that.
My Military ID is right next to my driver's license and debit card in my wallet, so it's visible if I have to show my driver's license for something or if I'm taking my debit card out to use. Very often, someone who sees it will ask what branch I was in. Then they will thank me for my service. My usual answer is "Thank you for your support." But I'm curious about how others respond to that.
Posted in these groups: 
Appreciation
Appreciation
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 432
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"Thanks, it was my pleasure to be of service."
It does really matter too if it's said to me with sincerity, or just because it's how they've been told to respond. I'll thank them either way, but sincerity is always met with sincerity.
It does really matter too if it's said to me with sincerity, or just because it's how they've been told to respond. I'll thank them either way, but sincerity is always met with sincerity.
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I thank them for acknowledging my service. I get it quite often where I live in WV. Anytime I wear my Vietnam Vet hat, someone thanks me for my service. WV is a small state but very patriotic and there are many veterans throughout the state. In fact, I read long ago that based on our population, we have one of the highest percentages of veterans in the country.
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I usually say, "Thank you for thanking me." The responses from there vary. Depending on the age of the other person this has led to discussions of how this was not always so, especially right at the end of the Viet Nam era. Mostly, however, I find the exchange brief, sort of like, "how's the weather" and the other doesn't really listen to whatever you say.
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If I have time, I try to be clever and say something like "thanks for paying your taxes" but mostly people get a "uh, yeah..."
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My reply is, "Thank you, I appreciate that very much". And I do appreciate hearing it. Being a Vietnam Vet, it was many years before I heard that from anyone after I had served.
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PO2 (ET-2) Dave Hendrick
"Thank You, I enjoyed my time in the Coast Guard.
I got to spend 18 months in the Mediterranean stationed
on the USCGC Courier, and got to experience another culture
on the Greek Island of Rhodes."
"Thank You, I enjoyed my time in the Coast Guard.
I got to spend 18 months in the Mediterranean stationed
on the USCGC Courier, and got to experience another culture
on the Greek Island of Rhodes."
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My usual response is that it “it was an honor to serve my Nation and ready to do so again if needed.
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For a long time I felt strange but I started seeing some people support Vet. So I tell them Thank you for your support
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Somewhere in the last few years I read a good response is "Thank you, you're worth it". I've used this a few times. It catches people attention. At a baseball game this summer the veterans were asked to stand up and be recognized. A young lady (anyone <60) thanked me for my service. I used the "You're worth it" reply. She actually teared up. I made her day, and she certainly made an impact on me.
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