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I Said Thank You Without Crying

Posted on 01/17/2004 8:38:06 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: agratefulnation; anamericansoldier; gratefulnation; thankyou; thankyouellenmarie; usmilitary
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To: John.Cooch
thanks from=thanks from you; to=too
21 posted on 01/17/2004 9:27:03 AM PST by John.Cooch
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To: John.Cooch
I taught my kids to say thank you for serving our country prior to 911....namely because I want them to appreciate the sacrifices, the loss and especially you who have devoted your time to defending our freedom.

((((THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY))))

22 posted on 01/17/2004 9:31:21 AM PST by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: EllenMarie
xlnt
23 posted on 01/17/2004 9:32:35 AM PST by breakem
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To: EllenMarie
I have a related story. I've served for years in the state defense force here in Indiana -- our uniforms are nearly identical to the Army BDU's. Our people have been putting in months of active duty at Camp Atterbury to help troops get mobilized for overseas duty from all over the eastern half of the nation.

Many of the people in the unit are in their 50's and 60's and determined to keep serving -- it's an inspiration to be around these guys who could leave the work to younger men, but don't.

There's a Major in my unit who was on his way to duty and stopped at a fast food restaurant for a soda. A little kid came up to him and said something like "Mister, thankyou for your service."

He was blown away for days afterwards. He'd been in the Navy in the 60's and 70's (as a nuclear submarine officer) and he said he'd never had such an experience -- back in those days they were advised not to wear a uniform off post to avoid verbal abuse. It just bowled him over, and I heard him re-tell the story to several people.

A simple, "Thankyou for your service" (from Americans of any age) is very moving to those in uniform. Nothing more needs to be said. I'm so glad that some guys from the 60's and 70's now get to experience the current climate of goodwill to those in uniform. They don't serve to receive any thanks or recognition -- but when it happens, it means more than you know.

24 posted on 01/17/2004 9:33:05 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: EllenMarie

Thank you for your lovely post and welcome to FR!!






25 posted on 01/17/2004 9:35:15 AM PST by pbear8 (no complaining...Thanks be to God)
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To: EllenMarie
I know what you mean. For some reason it's hard to say "Hi and thanks!" without gettgin choked up. I saw several last week in ATL and Philly while travelling. They seem to appreciate the thx.
26 posted on 01/17/2004 9:35:29 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitor)
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To: EllenMarie
Great first post. Welcome to FR.
27 posted on 01/17/2004 9:35:39 AM PST by HighWheeler (Death is better than taxes because death doesn't get worse every year.)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
ping
28 posted on 01/17/2004 9:36:39 AM PST by Pan_Yans Wife (He who has never hoped can never despair.)
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To: zip
...and would have given anything to have received a positive comment of any kind.

Amen to that!

29 posted on 01/17/2004 9:39:57 AM PST by elbucko
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To: EllenMarie
One of the most touching things I ever saw in my life is something that happened to my father, who won two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star in the Philippines.

Several years ago he was at a small legal proceding in the offices of a law firm, busily signing papers. In his eighties, he was a formal man, so he had worn a suit and had his tiny Silver Star decoration on his chest. Few people would have noticed it, much less recognized what it meant.

But one of the lawyers had been in the service, and he knew what that little star meant. Slowly he rose to his feet, drew himself to attention, and saluted a superior officer. He stood in front of all the other people in that office, all the other lawyers who thought this sort of thing was uncool, and held his salute.

My father was stunned, but in a moment he smiled and returned the salute. It meant the world to him to think that someone, if just one person, understood.

30 posted on 01/17/2004 9:49:44 AM PST by Capriole (Foi vainquera)
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To: EllenMarie; Pan_Yans Wife; ohioWfan; TexKat; SandRat; Cannoneer No. 4; B4Ranch; MJY1288; xzins; ...
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......"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great post, EllenMarie. Thank you, and welcome to Free Republic!

31 posted on 01/17/2004 9:51:03 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: zip
I think a few of us might remember being advised to hit the nearest airport bathroom and change to civies as fast as possible.
32 posted on 01/17/2004 9:52:15 AM PST by Khurkris (Ranger On...)
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To: EllenMarie
Thank you for doing this.Welcome to FR,where we honor our military.
33 posted on 01/17/2004 9:56:03 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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To: Khurkris
You've been there. Thanks for YOUR service. zip
34 posted on 01/17/2004 9:56:04 AM PST by zip
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To: EllenMarie; Flora McDonald; Landru; FBD; iceskater
Good Job, EllenMarie!
35 posted on 01/17/2004 9:56:38 AM PST by sultan88 ("I keep a close watch on this heart of mine, I keep my eyes wide open all the time...")
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To: zip
Thank you for your service!
36 posted on 01/17/2004 9:57:50 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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To: Khurkris
Welcome Home.Thank you for serving our country!
37 posted on 01/17/2004 10:01:20 AM PST by MEG33 (We Got Him!)
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To: EllenMarie
Bravo Zulu!!!
38 posted on 01/17/2004 10:05:43 AM PST by Tango Whiskey Papa
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To: EllenMarie
Great! Thanks for making a GI feel welcome :)

And welcome to FR.
39 posted on 01/17/2004 10:07:46 AM PST by Britton J Wingfield
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To: EllenMarie
Bump
40 posted on 01/17/2004 10:09:35 AM PST by SAMWolf (I am Homer of Borg. Prepare to be... ooooohh, doughnuts!)
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