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Our local radio station at the end of every show will say to walk up to someone in a military uniform to thank them for serving our country. Now I started doing this last year and after getting some "funny looks", it made me feel awkward for doing this.

Every time I get a chance to do it again whether it's at the FBO I take pictures at, or an airshow I'm gun shy to pass on my appreciation, and then walk away wishing I did because 99.9% of the time they are all so easy to talk to and love to share their experience with a "wanna be" like me.

For you guys in or were in, would you feel comfortble if a total stranger walked up either at an airshow, or at an FBO you are departing and just said "thanks for serving" and left it at that?

I don't want to let the few bad "vibes" I got last year ruin it this year.

Appreciate any feedback
<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

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If it Flys, shoot it

I've only been flying the Hog for 4 months now, I've done one airshow. The best thing I got out of the air show was the thanks. We love our job almost as much as we love talking about our job. I'm always willing to talk up the Hog.

Please don't stop thanking the men and women in uniform. It is appreciated, maybe a little awkward but still appreciated just the same.

Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

It's definitely unexpected when that kind of thing happens, but cool anyway.

"They say that the only two things certain in life are death and taxes" - Benjamin Franklin
*I prefer them in that order.
"From my cold, dead hands!" - Charlton Heston

Top Gun....Please Don't stop thanking us. The reason for the strange looks at least from my experience is because of all the years we experienced as second class citizens(The Clinton Years). I have been in the service for 13 years now and those first 7 years of my career were that way. After 9/11 I certainly noticed the change and was getting thanked by strangers whenever I stopped at the grocery/convienence store in uniform. The first few times I was really taken aback by the comments, I wasn't ready for them, but after the shock wore off it felt really awesome. Now, I just smile and thank the individual back for their appreciation. Most of us love talking about our job and sharing our experiences and will always smile at those who smile and thank us for our dedication. People like you make my day. There is nothing more special to me than when I am walking around and a little kid sees me and his eyes light up and try to throw me a salute. I always salute back!!!! We in the armed forces do this job for all of you and will continue to do it to the best of our abilities!!! God Bless America!!!!



Edited by - chili_kerch on Jun 01 2006 09:56

I joined the AF back in 1976, yes, I'm that old and now an ORF. From the time I'd signed up until 9-11 I've seen public opinion of the military swing 180 degrees. In the late '70s we were forbidden to wear uniforms off base, and even then there were problems when mixing with the local population in some areas.

Thoughout the Cold War years, most of us served in silence. Our patriotism worn in our hearts and not on our sleeves. We served because our ethics and moral standard demanded nothing less. We served to protect our nation, and the free world, from the threat of the Communist Nuclear Powers. We were never thanked and for the most part, we didn't require it. We did what had to be done.

After 9-11, everything changed. I was working as an SF Flight Chief out at Buckley AFB here in Colorado. I'd snuck off base one day to get some "Fuu Fuu Coffee" for my people, who'd just kicked my butt during one of our daily exercises. While at the counter, another coustomer came up to me and Thanked me for my service. I was shocked, floored and amazed to the point that all I could do was to mumble a weak reply that really didn't make since. By this time, I'd already served for over a quarter of a century, and not once during that time, had anyone other than my superiors and squadron mates, ever Thanked me for serving. I was stunned. I didn't know how to respond. Yeah, it was a little awkward to say the least. When I got back to the flight line I was talking with some of my people about it. We all agreed, things really have changed.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that we as service members don't appreciate the thanks, we really do. It's just that, for me anyway, it's so out of the ordinary that it tends to throw us. Some of us who've served so long, are just so stymied by that kind of attention, that we don't know how to react.

After telling the members of my flight, about the thanks we'd been given, and after letting that sink in a little, we all took our job a little more seriously. We carried ourselves a little better. I started noticing a slight improvement in my flights responces to the exercises. I found it truly amazing that a simple Thank You, from an ordinary citizen could make such a profound differance in my men. Just think how things might have been different during the Cold War, if we'd had that same level of support from our citizens.

Yes, it may seem awkward to both you and the service member, but given a few moments for it to sink in, and it can really make a differance.

"Slow is Fast - Fast is Slow"

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Slightly embarressed but i soon get over it and am thankfull for it. I had a young girl give me a hug in the grocerie store once and thank me. I didnt know her from Adams cat. But it gave me a warm fuzzy.

"By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a peerage or Westminster Abbey !" Nelson the Immortal Memory

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YGBSM !

thanks for all the great replies, I'll be sure to step up next time and pass on my gratitude!<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

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If it Flys, shoot it

30MM Jr had just returned from his OIF duty and was headed to Scott one early a.m. in his bdu's. Stopped at McD's for breckfast to go. When he pulled up to the get yer grub window the clerk said the guy behind him had seen his IL ANG sticker and uniform and had paid his bill, so here was his food and his $$ back.<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

The Second Amendment: America's original homeland security.
Ya just can’t take life too seriously, because you aren’t going to get out of it alive anyway.

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

I have to go along with Chili there and I enlisted in 1981, you couldnt go off base in your Fatigues only Blues and then you still had those "Looks".
But I would say after about 88-89 the people who lived around bases started liking us more and when you could stop to get something in your "BDU's" or eat you werent "Frowned on anymore.

After the "Sandbox" coming home early after YOU LEFT Dover AFB for Boston Airport you found out what it felt like to "Really be in the Service" People saying "Thanks,Shaking your hand,patting you on the Back etc..." was pretty over whelming after only being with others like yourself and "People" who didnt want you there.
On the plane to Memphis I was invited to the Cockpit to see the flt Crew, got to Smoke a Butt, shoot the breeze went back the Stewardess gave me my own roll of seats so I could nap(I wasnt hungry")
And I was treated like a King.
The Stewardess did make me feel uncomfortable when she told the plane "We have Guest's on board a USAF SGT and ARMY SGT straight from the Persian Gulf going home lets give them a hand"
Everyone started clapping and Yelling . I felt <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>
So did that Army Sgt sitting behind me.
When we landed they let us "Leave first" they insisted and the Stewardess Hug and Kissed us as we went by and the Crew shook our hands.
We both were heading to Alex's he was going back to Polk and when we hit Alex I got off the plane and could see my Girls in the Window
(1 and 3) by now and I stopped a fell to my knees and "KISSED" THE GROUND, not because of the flight because I was home then saw them.

It was a experiance I'll never forget,but when I got out in 1992 I did notice later on and in 1994 when I got orders to "Report for a Bag Drag" for the IRR the feelings had already changed.

Pretty bad you have to loose a part of a city, and 2400 KIA and 1000's of wounded to get the Military noticed again.

But I have had Folks buy my Food beforeafter seeing my jacket and hat and alot of gROUNDpOUNDERS tell me how much the Hog means too them and what its done for them as CAS.

Thats always been the Best feeling,knowing that you played a small part in a Family (The A-10) when a Army Sgt comes up too you and ask
"You worked on the A-10 in Desert Storm"?
Yes I did
"Let me shake your hand, you Guys saved our "ASS" back then---------------

Thats <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> all you need!

Goose

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin,
(1706 - 1790)

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

Last time I was activated a couple from our church stopped by one evening and left us a card and thanked me for being in the military. I didn't know what to say. When I opened the card there was a $100.00 bill in it. I was stunned.
db

Being responsible means sometimes pissing people off.
Gen Colin Powell ret