I was in a building today waiting my turn with about 30 some people when a young man in Army fatigues came in. I stood up and offered my hand as I said, "thank you for your service". The young man looked me square in the eyes, shook my hand and said, " you're welcome, glad to do it". I sat back down and as I did all eyes in he waiting area were on me like I had just done the unimaginable. Not one other soul in the room took the time to thank that young man.

His response made me happy, the others in the room, not so much.
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Good for you!
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Great gesture, folks in our armed services dont get near the respect and gratitude they deserve.
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from a Soldier.. Thank you for your support!
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Well done Al!! I love hearing these kind of stories. This ole 1SG appreciates your kind gesture. :-) Sad to say but seems lots of people just don't get it.
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I don't do this nearly enough. Rock on Al. :-) I am gonna thank the next soldier I see for sure.


I remember everyone in first class looking at me one time when I asked the Captain if he would put the soldier I saw get on board in the empty seat next to me. Then even more so when I 'bought' the young private his first drink. Some lady behind me mumbled something about underage and I turned around and told her, "This MAN is about to go over seas and put his life on the line so that you can make dumb statements like that and so that I can tell you to shut the hell up."
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Nicely Done Al!
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Thanks for the thanks but I wanted to share what happened because I could not believe the reaction for the other 30+/- people in the room.

The Service men and women deserve the at-a-boy, not me.

Next time you see a soldier take the 20 seconds it takes to offer your hand and say thank you.
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When I thank people I see in uniform I sometimes see a slight shock in their reaction, like they were expecting something besides gratitude. That tells me they aren't thanked enough. They are heros and role models that children should be taught to respect. Good doings Al, even if you don't want a pat on the back! :-)
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Thats why you deserve thanks as well. Just as none of those people in that room are wearing the uniform (although some may have in the future) None of them stood up to thanks the hardtimes that can accompany this uniform. Your a symbol of American Pride just as much as we are!
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:-)

As for the other people in the room: :-)
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Way to go Al!
In my nine years in the Corps I think that happened to me maybe twice …
When we came home from Lebanon it was like no one even knew we were over there.
In 1976 at the airport in San Diego I actually had some one call me a baby killer …
I smiled and said “Thank You”.
I give 10% Discounts on my products to all Military personnel, Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters,
And Military folks get into my gun shows for FREE.
To ALL of you who are serving your Country
THANK YOU !
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Good deal Al. I volunteer for an organization and get to thank veterans and enlisted men alike. Here is the link:
http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/

I have a retreat coming up in September where I will be taking out two soldier s day for fly fishing out of a drift boat. I dont think there is enough we can do to thank military past and present.

I do the same every time I see a soldier. Get odd looks but the smile on the persons face is priceless.
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Good for you Al.
I try to do the same when I travel. In Minnesota, we don't have that many bases of any kind, and it is not very common to see a troop in uniform, but I like to have a few extra in my travel case when I fly. No matter what airport you are near in this world, you are likely to see someone serving for YOU. I like to grab one or two, hand them over with a smile and say "Thanks for your service." Sometimes they say thanks (like they owe ME a thanks :-) ) or say they don't smoke. I tell them to give them to a fellow soldier, if they don't mind. You do get strange looks when you do this. My wife wondered what the hell I was doing the first time she saw me do it. (There have been a few times when I "went to use the restroom" with my cigar caddy in hand. My lovely wife thinks I am enough of a dork as it is, and really isn't used to that kind of interaction, so she doesn't see it sometimes. :-) )
One of my last trips, I had my cigar caddy in my checked luggage and felt like a real dumbass when I saw a couple young guys that looked like they were returning from leave, and I couldn't toss 'em a couple.
Whether you reach across an airplane aisle, over a seatback, or slip them a smoke at the gate or luggage carousel, it's always a good feeling.
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x2 Very Cool
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Thanks Al for a lesson in common sense & courtesy. Well Done!
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Very nice Al. :-)
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Al....:-) x 10.
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From a 20+ year Veteran still flingin his old a$$ outta the aircraft....THANK YOU AL!!!!!

:-)
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You ARE an American Hero... the brave men & woman who served never get appreciated/recognized enough for their service & sacrifices. I always like to stop and say hi to the troops whenever I see them out in public. All they want to be appreciated & know they exist.
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