Okay, fine. I won’t thank you for your service but I will continue to anonymously pay for your lunch.
People really don’t know what “service” is.
I didn't earn it.
I joined the Marines to go to Da'Nam. I spent four years dusting radios as an MOS 2800. The closest I ever got was a 96 liberty R&R in Taiwan. Half of my boot camp platoon are on the Wall.
When I got out and returned to college, if anyone asked, I said I had spent 4 years in California. It was easier than explaining the Corps.
(For those who don't know, The Corps didn't give you a choice of MOS, except whether you wanted the Wing...)
...but my point is that after going through some emotionally and financially rough times taking care of his elderly parents, he is constantly "paying it back" for the help he was provided during his rough patch.
Aside from volunteering playing Santa Claus and visiting kids in the hospital, one of the things he does at Christmastime is that he goes to the local Wal*Mart's service desk and anonymously pays off a service member's layaway balance. I am not sure how he does it, it has something to do with service members using military ID... he is a pretty engaging guy (he was a politician and in sales to boot, afterall) and probably charms the service desk worker into giving up the list.
Not to pimp his website, but he does a weekly podcast with couple buddies where they just talk about whatever, sports, pop culture, their personal lives, just everyday stuff... it's a good show and I am glad he has found his niche doing "new media" type stuff.
I listen to it on Tune-in, if anyone is interested check out http://www.notanotherpodcastusa.com/.