Veterans Canteen Service offering free coffee for Veterans Day

“Thank you for your service.”

That phrase, since day one of its popularity (started by Govt.-run Perception Management during the Iraq/Afghan Wars, perhaps?) always meant absolutely nothing to me. I joined the U.S. Army as an Infantryman as soon as I turned 17 back in 1982 because it’s what I felt geared for, and was always fascinated with military science. Most of the rest of the reason, however was to escape an abusive foster home, that social workers just stuck me in, and threw away the key.

Our service hasn’t made anyone free since at least the Vietnam War, where the U.S. violated a relatively model international agreement (the 1954 Geneva Agreement) that was supposed to end with a popular vote in Vietnam, in order to start its own war there. During that time against Vietnam War protesters and other activists, civil rights were thrown under the bus.

Over the years, since getting out of the Regular Army in 1985, I discovered at both ends how a majority of our tax dollars goes straight to the military, to include salaries, non-taxable allowances and other actuarial benefits. Therefore, to try and support a small family I stuck with the military, both as a reservist, and civilian employee (For example, I made far more as an electronics technician working on communications gear that was older than me, as compared to what I made from a large, cutting edge technology mainframe computer company). After the early 1990’s, I gave up on the civilian sector as a means of accruing wealth while working for someone else.

In the case of my reserve retirement, as of 2018 we now have to “apply” for it, as if we were another schmuck applying for their own Social Security. It used to be automatic. In my case, the application process with the Army/DFAS was complicated, being sent poorly written and contradictory instructions from some command at Ft. McCoy, WI. I was given a non-stop runaround, until I made it clear a second time that I qualified for Early Age Retirement. I finally started receiving my retirement, five months late. How’s that for “Thank you for your service”? It’s more like a kick-in-the-teeth to us reserve-component retirees. I know for a fact that there have to be incapacitated people out there who put their 20 in the Guard or Reserve, maybe a couple of decades ago, who are probably not getting their retirement, and the Gov’t. is more than happy to forget about it as well. They actually had the nerve to send me statements at the end of a DFAS communication like “We immensely thank you for your service.”

To make a long story short, I’d rather people thank the checkout person at a store, or the person who hands you your fast food at the drive-through for THEIR service, which is basically wage slavery. This is the same majority in this country that doesn’t have $500.00 in their bank account for an emergency. Maybe they were disqualified from joining the military, which is why they’ll never make any real money, working for anyone else (Other than their own business enterprise) in this society.

Or in my case, they can thank me for when I had my war: The police removed me from an abusive father a year after my mother died, when I was 11. I then later entered an abusive foster home, with more abuse at the hands of strangers for 4-1/2 years, until I was 17. Then suddenly all alone with no one’s help. They can thank me for going through all that, and still contributing to society.

When I was called upon, I went & served my country and I’m very proud of that. I was fortunate to come out in reasonably good health. I am also appreciative of any discounts & services I’m offered by the V. A. Too many people are just too concerned with how much they can get for free. I’m also very concerned for my fellow vets that came home with serious
disabilities and prefer that more help goes to them.

Reading the few replies, posted so far, and by no means trying to sound “preachy”, any time I received a gift, or was offered a discount, I made it a point to reciprocate in the positive. It had never been about what I received, it is simply ” the right thing to do”. You, or the organization you are representing, was on the minds of the “giver”, why insult them or complain?
Thousands of businesses offer discounts and free goods and services for those of us who served. You can either accept or reject the offer, but by openly expressing disdain puts the onus of disrespect squarely upon your shoulders.
Be graceful if not grateful. I have a lot of gifts I’ll never use, but I was always graceful when anyone offered me anything. My Grandkids were thinking of ME when they did something for me or gave me a gift.
Yes, I thought “what the hell am going to this!”, but they received hugs and Thank You’s!
I’m no better than anyone else, but I would never humiliate someone who thought of me deserving of some small gesture of kindness.

Thank you for remembering us.

Not to sound ungrateful but……This offer is Nationwide for anyone who isn’t a Veteran on Veterans Day. 10% of an item is not much, now if you gave us 25%, now that would be great. Other than that, we all get treated the same. No big deal on the benefits for the hand full of vets in the US.

Thank you Brian Vorce for remembering our Veterans on their special day. I am the surviving spouse of a veteran. You are appreciated ?????❤️