Its unfortunate for you that people do not give you that recognition you deserve and crave. Most of the rest of us, even without the assistance of hats and clothing, license plates, regulation haircuts, or quirks like polishing tennis shoes and starching jeans, can identify, not 100%, most of the other vets, especially those who were enlisted, that are around us on a daily basis.
Bearing, tendency for momentary contemplation, deliberate movement, and their observance of the environment around them are the types of things that one might notice. Im one of those people that are apparently easy to identify. I normally wear off brand jeans and a plain crew neck tshirt. I don't walk around discussing the military like some people tend to do yet in public places strangers walk up and say, "Youre a veteran aren't you?" and without a response on my part thank me before they wander off. Occasionally I will meet the gaze of another vet in a public place and there is a subtle silent acknowledgment sometimes little more than a twitch in both eyelids like an aborted blink that tells us both that we know.
I was in a civilian hospital for something a couple of years ago. As I sat in the bed a stranger in scrubs walked in and before he did anything I said "Welcome home corpsman. I feel easier knowing youre here. How long have you been out?" He was shocked that I didn't just know he was a vet but specifically that he had been a corpsman. I wont bother with the thought process that told me who he was in the past and why he was in my room but I knew.
I presently work with people with disabilities. For various reasons I tend to presently work with violent individuals with mental health problems but that hasn't always been the case. When working with someone that has never had sight there is no way should they ask to ever explain in a manner that they will truly ever understand what light or the color blue is. If you truly are the person expressed above you too are blind to a wavelength that I will never be able to make you understand but that doesn't make it any less real.
Color me a greedy SOB. NM DMV will give Purple Heart recipients a license plate that never expires or has to be re-taxed. I jumped at it. Wish I would have known that the first 30 years after I got out of the Army.
I spent most of my life on active duty, enlisted for a decade and more than that commissioned. My craving is to see our nation defended against all enemies foreign and domestic. More hazardous and combat deployments , long and short overseas tours than fingers (I still have all 10 those), yeah what was your point again?
Indeed, folk often recognize me as a vet as well, but I never intentionally make it obvious.
And, would never denigrate anyone who thanked me or inquired about the nature of my service to country.