- Jan 7, 2005
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I recently separated from the Military, but I want to share something that I hope more people will take to heart...
I've been overseas my entire active duty career (May 98 - Dec 04). Last year, I had the opportunity to go back to the US on the Government's dime for some conferences. The first one was in Atlanta (Ft McPherson). This was my first trip back to the US since the war in Iraq started. We stayed at a hotel in downtown Atlanta and took the subway to the base everyday. On the first day, as I got off the train and headed for the exit, a lady came up to me out of nowhere and grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye and said "Thank you so much for your sacrifice. What you're doing is so noble." She was so sincere that I actually got teary eyed. Being overseas, I obviously had never had anybody do that before. I cannot even describe how emotional it made me. In fact, every single day that I was in Atlanta, at least one person came up to me and thanked me for my service. One day, a motorcycle rally passed by - upon seeing us, several of them slowed down, stood up and saluted us.
Although I'm no longer in the Army, I've never forgotten how unbelievably great it felt to hear people I'd never met saying those two words to me. Because of that, I always make it a point to do the same when I encounter a veteran. Recently, I had a layover at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam and ran into a few guys in DCU's (desert camoflauge). The looks on thier faces when I grabbed their hands and said thank you were priceless.
I would encourage anyone reading this to do the same, because you never know how much it means to these men and women. I know from experience.
Rik
I've been overseas my entire active duty career (May 98 - Dec 04). Last year, I had the opportunity to go back to the US on the Government's dime for some conferences. The first one was in Atlanta (Ft McPherson). This was my first trip back to the US since the war in Iraq started. We stayed at a hotel in downtown Atlanta and took the subway to the base everyday. On the first day, as I got off the train and headed for the exit, a lady came up to me out of nowhere and grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye and said "Thank you so much for your sacrifice. What you're doing is so noble." She was so sincere that I actually got teary eyed. Being overseas, I obviously had never had anybody do that before. I cannot even describe how emotional it made me. In fact, every single day that I was in Atlanta, at least one person came up to me and thanked me for my service. One day, a motorcycle rally passed by - upon seeing us, several of them slowed down, stood up and saluted us.
Although I'm no longer in the Army, I've never forgotten how unbelievably great it felt to hear people I'd never met saying those two words to me. Because of that, I always make it a point to do the same when I encounter a veteran. Recently, I had a layover at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam and ran into a few guys in DCU's (desert camoflauge). The looks on thier faces when I grabbed their hands and said thank you were priceless.
I would encourage anyone reading this to do the same, because you never know how much it means to these men and women. I know from experience.
Rik
