Solders in Airports

[Langenator]

Also, watch out for those travelling out of uniform: unofficial SOP Army travel uniform is jeans or slacks with a polo or oxford shirt and generally athletic shoes of some type. The high and tight haircuts are generally the biggest giveway.

My unit shooting team was spotted at ATL coming home from the All Army matches by an older gentleman (I'd guess Korea vet) who shook all our hands and said thanks.

All I could say was thanks for paying me to go shooting.

 

[bogie]

Remember too that a lot of major airports have USO facilities - stop by, and see what they need. May just be cash. Who knows.

 

[The Amigo]

Good to do

Im in the military 2. If your too shy to shake a hand one good thing that meant a lot to us was thank u cards during Xmas or the holidays. Some folks do have lonely nights out there. At our base every year we gathered boxes of thank u cards drawn by the children at high schools and shipped them with free calling cards for the troops. Another good one is like the gentleman said the USOs at the airport even if you don't have any $$ to share stop by and just saying thanks and hi might mean the difference to that soldier,marine airman,sailor or coast guardsman.

 

[langenc]

If you have time set by the lunch counter and step up and by some troops lunch. That would certainly be appreciated.

 

[Autolycus]

When I was last in an airport I was in Atlanta. I headed over to the bar and bought a few guys some beers. Listening to an older Seargant talk about how much he wanted to just stay home with his family made me feel like complete ****. I was very humbled by this man and his selfless sacrifice for the country.

The least you can do is by them a drink.

 

[DC-Loudsound]

I say thanks every chance I get ....

I live near the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in CA. We see a lot of Military men and women at the local Sizzler restaurant. If I catch a couple of them in line by the register, sometimes I’ll offer ( try to insist ) they let me buy them their meal for them. They all say exactly the same thing … “you don’t have to do that” … to which I reply … “I know, I just want to. It’s the least I can do for all you’ve done for me and my family.” It just makes me feel good. I thank them, shake their hands, and enjoy my meal all the more. One time my daughter ( 6 years old at the time ) gave these two big soldiers a hug with her thank you. One of the guys wasn’t expecting it and I thought he was going to cry. I think she really touched him. I was very proud of her.

Can we ever really say thank you enough ?

To all those here who have served …. Thank You !

Dean

 

[rangerruck]

there are many reasons to not too, all bad, and all told to you conciously or subconciously by poeple ,media ,or rganizations who do not favor the military.
It happened to me only once during my service, but I surely appreciated it.

 

[Jimmie]

One time my daughter ( 6 years old at the time ) gave these two big soldiers a hug with her thank you.

While free meals would be great, that'd be worth more to me than 100 meals. And you can bet I would have to go get something from my truck after that.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

The Old Soldier

Somtimes the soldier you meet isn't young any more.

Sometimes he's from your father's generation.

Take the time to thank them.

They've earned it.

 

[skinnyguy]

In 1982, at age 18, I enlisted in the Navy, I went to boot camp, my "A" school, and then came home for 2 weeks before I was shipped overseas. At the time, my Mom was working for a bar, and she mentioned that her "Sailor Son" was coming home for a visit. Her boss told her to bring me in, she told him my age, and he said "I don't give a sh**, bring him in here." When I got home, she went in to work, and took me, in my Navy blues, with her, she told me to just answer "yes" when I got to the door.

The doorman looked at me, asked are you 21? I said "yes", he smiled, shook my hand and said, "come on in, friend". I went through the door with my Mom, and she took me up to the bar and intoduced me, the owner was behind the bar, and asked what I wanted, I said "a coke", he pulls a tall draft Bud, sets it in front of me, and says, "one coke, on the house".

It was at that moment that I fully realized that what I was doing MEANT something to somebody beyond just me and my family. I take that feeling with me now, and when I see a soldier at an airport, or bus station, I ALWAYS try to spread the pride and HONOR I felt at that moment with the soldiers I see by saying, "Hey, I appreciate what you're doing, THANK YOU."

It may be awkward, but I don't think it is EVER inappropriate.

 

[Cuda]

Go for it, they will feel better and so will you..

C

 

[gunfighter48]

Those of us who are Viet Nam era vets know how important it is to say "Thanks". I never pass up a chance to say "Thanks" to a Serviceman or Servicewoman. I never ever want them to go though what we had to endure.

 

[dirtpig67]

Those folks that receive Soldiers back from OIF and OEF in Bangor, Maine are the real deal.

I came thru there back in March of 2004 after a year in the sandbox at around 0230. I was frankly floored by the fact that there were around 15 people at that hour of the night to receive us back. There were more than a few that got choked up coming down the gateway and seeing that group waiting to welcome us home. Back then the word had not gotten out about this group in Bangor so it was completely unexpected.

Its not just the people from around there that dedicate their time and efforts to this. A lot of the local businesses donate to the effort. If I remember, a local cell-phone store donated phones and unlimited service so that people could call home, and a lot of other businesses donated food.

I found this on the web if you want to check out what they do and see the pictures for yourself.

http://mainetroopgreeters.com/Site/Home-1.html

 

[Slinger]

My friend was spit on and called a "baby killer" when he returned home from Viet Nam.

I think any positive form of attention would be appreciated by these brave young people.

 

[rb4browns]

When I was 19 I spent a year volunteering for the DAV by driving one of their vans equipped to haul around guys in wheelchairs each week. I'd get in the early AM, get the van, pick up a bunch of old guys and drive them down to the V.A. in San Diego. I'd hang out at the hospital and then take 'em home. It was really humbling and gratifying at the same time. Although I never served in the military, my father, uncles and Grandfather on my Mom's side all served. I htink those of us who are not vets owe something, even if it's a handshake and a thank you, to the folks in our military.