I served many moons ago, yet I always feel the need to say thank you to people that served before me. Always feel weird when people say thank you to me. Especially to Korean War Veterans. Those men, like my Dad, certainly fought the forgotten war.
My youngest daughter had asked me to go to the village Veterans Day celebration. Actually, she told me that I needed to "go to the lunch for old soldiers," so I did. Other than the ironic fact that the Nam era VFW president didnt seem to think much of vets that came after him, all of the vets were walking around thanking one another. It felt kind of odd initially because at 50-ish I was the youngest vet there and I was being thanked also.
It dawned on me that while it was true that they stood in the breach while I went through my childhood, it was also true that when they went on to live their lives I took care of my responsibility to the country. Just as there is some kid leaving for MEPs today who will watch over both of us tomorrow.