I Said Thank You Without Crying

[EllenMarie]

As I rode home from DC to Maryland on the Metro train, there he sat. Dressed in fatigues, high laced boots, close hair cut. One of them. One of the heros described in Oliver North's and Karl Zinsmeister's books. Or of the prints I've made from Diogenesis's posts. Okay, girl, pull it together--it's not a big thing. As we approached the final stop I walked up to him. "Soldier...Thank you for serving..." Of all the responses I would have expected a soft and humble "Thank you... thank you... thank you" was not one of them. As he turned to exit the metro car, I finished up with "Y'all did an outstanding job".

Well, I did it. Yes I did. I said thank you without crying. No tears. None.

At least none while we had eye contact.

[patton]

Good for you.

[TheGeezer]

Good for you, indeed!

ANYTIME we see a soldier, we must congratulate them, buy their meals for them, make them feel appreciated and welcome. We must not let the nation-hating Left brand the defenders of the nation with guilt and hate, as they did after the VietNam War.

[TheGeezer]

Good for you, indeed!

ANYTIME we see a soldier, we must congratulate them, buy their meals for them, make them feel appreciated and welcome. We must not let the nation-hating Left brand the defenders of the nation with guilt and hate, as they did after the VietNam War.

[arichtaxpayer]

Congratulations our your good deed, and welcome to Free Republic (the only website you'll ever need).

[Freedom2specul8]

Welcome to Free Republic..

What was his reply??

[mplsconservative]

I'm curious too. What was the soldier's response?

Another welcome to Free Republic to you.

[joesnuffy]

Yep...we must as a nation never again break faith
with our young men and women who put their lives
and their futures on the line for our protection...
Never Again Break Faith With Our Troops

[EllenMarie]

As he looked up from where he was seated he softly repeated "Thank you...thank you...thank you".

I guess that wasn't clear in my post. Who would have thought he'd be thanking me because I was thanking him.

[gcruse]

What was his reply??

"Thank you... thank you... thank you"

What do I win?

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanx..I misread it. I read it as though Ellen said "thank you thank you thankyou.."

[zip]

Bravo.

That "thank you" meant more than most people can ever realize. I was in San Francisco in 1965 on my way to my next military duty station and would have given anything to have received a positive comment of any kind.

Thank you from a vet and Columbia MO Infinite FReeper.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

My mother recently flew on a plane with American soldiers, one in particular caught her eye. As she watched him, she teared up, at a loss for words, and couldn't approach him. She was so overwhelmed with gratitude for his strength and bravery, and also concern for his well-being and the sacrifices placed upon him, that she couldn't find the right words.

I'm pleased that you found them.

[zip]

Just noticed your "sign on" date.

WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC.

[dware]

The response you get when you say thank you is satisfying. Generally, you can tell you made their day.

During the '03 tax season, I was working inside a grocery store, filling out tax returns for one of the Nationwide chain tax companies. I was standing outside smoking a cigarette when an older gentleman walked up and struck up a conversation about the weather.

At the time, the Red Cross had their blood drive going, and had their bus parked out in front of the store. He noticed the bus, and made mention of it along with the fact that he had served in WWII.

We carried the conversation back into the store and, just before he was about to walk off to do his shopping, I reached my hand out and said "Thank you for your service to the country." He paused for a moment, then a smile spread across his face and he replied "No problem", and went about his business. I could tell he was a little taken aback, and happy.

Since then, I try to make it a point to say thank you when I see a soldier or someone wearing a veteran hat. It makes everyone involved a happier person.

[conservcalgal]

Well, I did it. Yes I did. I said thank you without crying. No tears. None.

Thanks for posting. I have been too shy to say thank you for the exact same reason. I will next time.

Welcome!!

[Eala]

Welcome to FreeRepublic!!

[WVNan]

Welcome to Free Republic, and thank you for saying thank you.

[John.Cooch]

Wow,

I have been in the USAF for 23 years. There was a time in 81 when I joined that we weren't allowed to wear our uniforms off base (civilians were nasty to military sometimes). It wasn't until 911 that I started to hear people say thank you. I personally have had it said to me on several occasions and it is the most wonderful thing to ever happen.

The gist of my post is this, we do not do it for thanks. We do it for many reasons. To be honest, when I first joined I did it for a job and a chance to learn a skill. I stayed for love of Country. Most do to.... The thanks we get from is the sweet icing on the cake. Thank You!!!

[manic4organic]

My daughter was singing at a gig in Dallas recently. Two soldiers were at the bar. I said "thank you" with beer (and words). They were humble and grateful. As am I by their service to our country.