Why do Veterans seem to not like being told ''thank you for your service'' by civilians?

How many actually thank you for your service? Everybody? Most people? Many? A few? Occasionally? Rarely? I might think that it was routine or obligatory if it happened often. But it is a rare, very rare occurrence, at least for me and I'm rarely in public without some distinguishing apparel. So, I just smile and say "It's an honor to have served." Any other response would make me feel concerned for the veterans being Thanked

Many reasons come to mind- 1. I volunteered to serve. 2. I just did my duty. 3. I was lucky, and many of my friends were not. 4. What of the Vietnam Vets
, Korean Vets who got no thanks. 5. What of the families of my KIA?. I thank folks in honor of my KIA, and say "It was my privilege to serve with great people in crummy places."

Could be any number of reasons, and depends on the given Vet/SM. When I see an SM (and around here that's pretty much just recruiters) or Veterans, I may engage them in a brief conversation as we have things in common, but am reserved in dishing out the thanks, and in HOW I do it, because I know many are not comfortable with gestures of appreciation. I certainly do return it if they thank me for my service though.

For me, I find some discomfort in being thanked, because I was just doing my thing, and never figured I did much to warrant such overt gratitude. When it was heart-felt, I appreciated it, and thanked them for their support, but honestly, even a look of recognition or the subtle head-nod, would more than suffice if any thanks need be expressed. That's me.

For me, it's more of awkwardness than anything else. I don't want to be rude, but I'm typically blindsided by the comment and normally can't think of anything to say in reply that sounds sincere. Also, I was just doing my job and don't feel that I did anything particularly noteworthy. For most of my adult life, if I wasn't getting yelled at for something it meant I did the job right... so being thanked for something is a bit of a foreign concept to me. I make sure to thank others for their efforts as a result, but it just feels... odd... to me.

_First, I was doing something I loved, and getting paid. No thanks necessary.
_Second, When I first started serving it was not long after Viet Nam, there was a degree of hostility to veterans and serving military. I have been thanked by people who were none to nice in the late seventies and early eighties, and have conveniently forgotten their previous bad attitude.
_Third, there is a significant minority who are thanking veterans and active duty members out of pity because they think we are damaged goods.

For me I've moved on and the thanks tends to suck me back a touch. I'm not offended and do appreciate the gesture, but my mind prefers to be elsewhere. I've observed if you keep going forward, you live several lifetimes, hence thinking back is like a little speed bump. So I'd expect those who have sensitivities they don't want to be reminded of, it can touch a raw nerve. We're all on the bell curve somewhere, hence there will be a number who range from hate to be reminded, don't care, and love the attention. I will say if you thank someone for their service, think about if you're saying it for yourself or the Vet.

I think that it is not necessarily dislike but instead embarrassment of the individual for being singled out. I never took the oath or served for personal accolades so I am not comfortable for being thanked for serving the country that has given me so much opportunity. I feel the same way when being thanked for my service as a police officer today. Over the years I have learned to reply with thank you for your kind words and acknowledgement and move on.

When a thing becomes "cookie cutter", it is recognizable. Robotized, if you will.

I don't think there's a set in stone answer, it is different for each person I assume. I know my family and friends who are currently in and recently got out claim they do not like it 1) for semi-awkward situations in public, and 2) because they do not need and/or want a thank you for what they've done because they chose to do it full heartedly knowing that it is what they chose and there were never any thanks expected.

I've never been offended by it. While I was still in, sometimes I've been in a rush, or just wanted to get home after a long shift but had to make a stop on the way. But it was still nice to hear. Now, as a veteran working at a Veteran's Hospital, I hear it way more frequently, and give the same back to fellow veterans, patient and employee alike. I hear it from civilians, every time I present my card for a discount, or if I'm wearing some bit of veteran status apparel. I'm never offended by it. Especially the discounts, and I always make sure to thank the worker for their business' honoring of veterans.