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.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

...welcome to Free Republic (the only website you'll ever need).

Truer words were never spoken.

[hedgetrimmer]

Thanks for you post.

Here is a daily thread you may be interested in reading:

FReeper Canteen ~ Saturday Nite Jukebox ~ January 17, 2004

Check out 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub's home page, he works hard to keep the Canteen open.

[humblegunner]

Outstanding and welcome to FR!

Thank a soldier.
For everything you enjoy and all that you have and all that you love.

[7.62 x 51mm]

On the way into work last week, I stopped in at a local diner, where I get two breakfast sandwiches - bacon, eggs, cheese on toast - made each morning as takeouts, and saw 3 soldiers back from Iraq, waiting for a bus ride to Pittsburgh, sitting at the counter.

I thanked each for their service and had the waitress bring me their bill to pre-pay, plus a nice tip for her.

Told her to tell them that a '71 Nam Vet said thanks for their service. Wished I could have given them a lift, but it'd be a 10-hr round trip, and I had to get to work.

[LisaMalia]

Beautiful and inspirational story.

I guess this is a good time to thank all FReepers who have served our great country. Thanks!

One of my favorite quotes is "Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know." It's on the headstone of a dear friend of mine who gave his life for our country in Vietnam.

[4integrity]

zip, this may be a bit late, but please accept my thanks and appreciation for your service to our great country! There were many of us who supported our troops during the Viet Nam era. I recall marching in a parade in NYC to support our troops. But, sadly, we didn't speak out long enough or LOUD enough. We won't let that happen again. God bless you, all of our veterans and our current military and their families.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

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

I did it also on Friday; a Marine Reservist was working on some equipment at our plant. When he was ready to leave, I told him thank you and to stay low when his unit goes to Afghanistan later this year. I also told we were supporting him and all the services that are fighting the WOT.

[McGavin999]

WOW Ellen, I don't know how you managed it, I couldn't even read your post without tearing up.

It's so easy to just say "thank you" and you have no idea how it lifts their spirits.

[Nea Wood]

Let me join the others in saying, that was a lovely post, a lovely thing to do, and brightened my day. Thank you!

[Between the Lines]

A STRANGER'S THANKS
TO OUR SOLDIERS

Although you have never met me,
Deep within my heart I know...
I can always count on you to go.
You'd leave your home and family.
To wage the fight that keeps me free.

And a candle I shall light..for you.
Each Day... that you must roam,
And I'll send a prayer to bring you home.
A glow of hope to get you through,
A Stranger's thanks, for all you do.

Although you have never met me,
Deep within my heart I know...
I can always count on you to go.
You'd give your life, before you'd flee.
Just to make sure that I could be.

And a candle I shall light..for you.
Each Day... that you must roam,
And I'll send a prayer to bring you home.
A glow of hope to get you through,
A Stranger's thanks, for all you do.

Although you have never met me,
Deep within my heart I know...
I can always count on you to go.
You'd fight my wars, all would agree,
To protect this friend you'll never see.

April 18, 1999
~Rexy~

Our gratitude and prayers for those who serve.
Thank you and God bless.

[skinkinthegrass]

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.

NEVER, EVER, AGAIN... :/

[arasina]

Welcome to FreeRepublic, EllenMarie, and thank you for posting your gratitude to those who serve our country. Gives us all a chance to join you in giving thanks.

There's really nothing wrong with shedding a tear when expressing appreciation for our troops, so don't feel badly that you did so. You're in good company.

[mystery-ak]

I want to thank all of you for taking the time to say thank you to a soldier...you'll never know what it means to them.

[M0sby]

bump to you ak...
(and Hello to Mike)

[mystery-ak]

Glad to see your Marine is home...Mike was due home in April but was extended again to May to help with the *surge*....this makes the fourth extension and he'll begone a total of over 15mos.

[MEG33]

God love ((((you and Mike)))).You have made such a sacrifice for me and my country.Thank you sounds lame,but THANK YOU!Prayers for you and all who are in harms way.

[TruthNtegrity]

My friend's nephew, returning from Kuwait in Dec. 2003, asked his Aunt, "Do I have to change out of my uniform in the airport?" All he'd heard the entire time he was serving overseas was the constant drum of anti-war slogans and headlines.

I was so saddened by hearing this. I mean, sheesh, she was writing to him and she reads Free Republic. I thought she'd been sending pro-war "Support our Troops" threads, and printing out an occasional Canteen. I guess not.

With every letter I write that goes to Iraq, I enclose positive news, printouts of the Canteen, and personally thank them for their service.

I do the same thing when I visit Walter Reed. I always take in threads from Free Republic to show them that we love them, we support them and we want them to get better fast.

Everywhere you go, when you see someone in uniform, thank them for their service to our Country. It is such a small thing to do but means so much to the recipient.

Just do it.

[mystery-ak]

It's been hard and we'll get through this...thanks for your prayers...they mean a lot to me.

[Rainmist]

To all the veterans on this thread and on Free Republic, I'd like to say thank you for your service and for enduring horrors a lot of us could only imagine. Thank you so much !!!!

[Thank You Rush]

I'm glad you were able to get the words out.

Last year my daughter and I drove from CA to GA and while we were eating in a restaurant outside El Paso, I could hear the conversation in the next booth. It was a young man with a young woman and he was talking about "orders". It was clear he was a member of the military so I stopped to "thank" him on our way out. He was stationed at Ft. Bliss and was indeed expecting orders any day. I thanked him for his service, to kick butt and to stay safe and I couldn't believe how the tears flowed from my eyes. I had to leave as I couldn't talk.

I then flew home to CA from GA and at the Atlanta airport, a young man,(short hair cut and military duffle bags at his feet)and his parents were outside the terminal where my daughter and I were talking. They were all in tears and my daughter said that I should go over and say something to them. I couldn't do it so she did. Yes - he was getting ready to leave for his departure to ?? and they were all very emotional. My daughter managed to speak to them without crying and I was ashamed that I couldn't.

I agree that we can't pass up the chance to thank every one of them when the chance comes our way. Hopefully, the next time I can do it without the tears.