No
Answering for my husband. So not really. We know many who would have liked to serve, even tried, but were injured in basic training, or who didn’t pass the tests, or who weren’t fit enough, etc. They would have given anything to do it, but couldn’t.
Not everyone is led to through their upbringing. Some just aren’t led. It’s a calling.
We also need those successful business men and women to make the money in the private sector which pays to run a good Army/Air Force, etc. Not everyone is meant to be a soldier.
And believe me, there are plenty of smelly, greasy, filthy mealy mouths out there who will NEVER utter a whisper of thanks to any vet or in the memory of anyone who has died for this country. They scorn us, regularly, because, well, you know ...they’d rather make love, not war, are die-hard commies, pinko leftists, etc.
So I feel the mention of thanks is always appreciated.
Not at all. If anything I get a bit embarrassed. I’ve done plenty of time in combat and dodged my share of mortar rounds...but the fact is that I came home in one piece and a lot of my friends did. My son the Marine simply says “Thank you for your support”...something I’ll start using myself.
I’m retired now but love buying meals or drinks for our young uniformed folks at the airport. These kids, unlike me, joined up in the middle of a war.