‪Stop Thanking Veterans‬

You see them at Train Stations, Airports, Bus Depots…in the Malls or maybe in line at the grocery stores. At one point or another, you have engaged a conversation, or given the universal “Head-nod“. In these moments of brief or long interactions, one may have felt compelled to speak these 5 Words Of Death (Closing Lines)…”Thank You For Your Service“.
Grant it, the statement may very well, be coming from the most sincerest of hearts, but what are you really saying? What is the “Service” that you speak of? Is this really any different when one may ask someone (familiar or unfamiliar)…”How Are You Doing?“.

Let us be honest, do you really want to know how that person is doing? More so, do you really care? Recognizing the dynamics may be slightly different, the principal is the same. Also, what is the response one may expect or are prepared for. What “Service” are you thanking them for? For some, this expression of gratitude may be discomforting, even for the humble. We would like to recognize our ‪#‎Veterans‬ as “Selfless” individuals.

Many cannot and may never be able to comprehend the ‪‎valor and ‪‎sacrifice demanded upon these brave. Therefore is, “Thank You For Your Service“, enough?
As ‪Candice Horner‬ writes; “When people would say those five words to me, it would make me uncomfortable. I didn’t sacrifice much, and I lived a pretty cool life while stationed in ‪Japan‬. I felt their gratitude was misdirected; I never saw ‪combat‬.”

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Candice Horner is a former Marine, RN and currently a Competitive Shooter (Winner of the Mammoth Sniper Challenge Extreme Tough Man Division). It is said that, the phrase is “inadequate; it’s empty“. So what would be the most appropriate thing to say?
Maybe sharing how your life was impacted by not just that Veteran’s service, but by the services of those who have and are currently sacrificing.

Stop Thanking Veterans for their Services and start Recognizing their Sacrifices, Acknowledging their Courage and Appreciate it’s Worth!
War stories are great…but life’s triumphs are BEAUTIFUL!

(Article Credited to Candice Horner)
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