I don't mind if you thank me for my service. My service was more than three decades ago. And while I never saw active combat, I still managed to leave a part of my body behind. Field maneuvers can sometimes be dangerous. And in my case, a field accident left me permanently disabled. A corrupt veterans administration has consistently been trying to cheat me out of my disability ever since. It's a battle that I am still fighting today.
After my service, it was a full 26 years before anyone ever thanked me for my service. Frankly I never really gave that a thought. But now it's something I often hear on veterans day (the one day a year I wear my uniform). Where were they decades ago? In any case, I don't want that kind of thanks.
My disability makes it impossible for me to do manual labor or heavy lifting, so after my service I went back to college and studied computer science. I've worked in that field now for over 20 years, mostly as a database programmer, but now that I'm past 50 a strange thing has happend. It seems that my long experience and deep expertise is no longer wanted.
I see it in the faces of interviewers every time I apply for a job. They are always excited, even thrilled to see my impressive resume. But the minute they meet me face to face, their eyes are quickly drawn to my grey sideburns or the crows feet around my eyes. Their smiles quickly fade to an obviously phony if polite grin. Before I even open my mouth I know I don't have the job. It's always the same, they are impressed with my technical acumen during the interview, but they always end up hiring the 20 something or 30 something a few days later. I've experienced it enought times now to know.
So if you want to thank me for my military service, please by all means do so, but not with empty words and gestures. Show me that my service to this country meant something. You can thank me by hiring me for that ETL or Data Modelling gig. I haven't worked in nearly 6 months. I'm not picky, I'm not even expensive. I can do that job far better than most of the 30 somethings you might otherwise hire. So show a disabled vet that his service did mean something. Don't throw me away just because I've sprouted a few grey hairs, or because my skin has wrinkled just a bit. My mind is still sharp and my skills are up to date.
I left a part of myself on the field in your service. Show me that meant something in a way that is in itself meaningful. Because too many of us have been forgotton and left by the wayside. Everyone whether they are a vet or not, deserves a chance even if they are past 50.