Do you think veterans who seek validation on Veterans Day are overdoing it?

2022-11-09T20:10:42-05:00

I am stationed at Fort Benning. I have been in a few areas but I think this one is pretty saturated with veterans. I don't really mind but sometimes it gets out of hand. I don't own a single military shirt that I wasn't issued. I try to look like a civilian when I am not at work. Not many really do that around here. I mind the mistake of going to walmart on the way home and a person was staring at me. I made the mistake of making eye contact. He rode up to me with his clothing covered military symbols of his past service and asked if I was a Ranger. I told him I went to Ranger School. He then told me that he was a "real badass" in his day. Another day I was at a event for families on past. I was a older gentlemen with 5.11 pants and tactical jacket with airborne patches. The hat matched the patches. He was well off in age.

I understand being proud of your service. I can't recall getting a free meal, besides an MRE for my service. Do you think some just take it a bit too far?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 8:38 PM

2022-11-09T20:38:08-05:00

I think Fort Benning is a vortex of wannabe badasses, even more than Bragg. Benning is the home of combat arms, so every retiree will either tell you how they were a Ranger/Sniper/Infantry, or how they almost were. A lot of those guys are hanging on to the tough guy they were in 1985. I guess the area just attracts that type of person.

Personally, I don't think we are entitled to more than our paycheck. It's cool that we get some nice perks, but four years of your life shouldn't entitle you to 10% off Home Depot for the remainder of it. I appreciate that some places give out free meals on Veterans Day, but I didn't earn it and most people in service today didn't either.

I think for a lot of people, this is the biggest thing they've ever done. As one smart person once told me, you're as big as your biggest problem. Some people are as big as building wells in Africa or teaching new soldiers to shoot. Others are as big as their free breakfast not coming with free drinks.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 9 at 2022 8:51 PM

2022-11-09T20:51:30-05:00

This is what you’ll see on my FB page on every Veterans Day, CPT Private RallyPoint Member. I don’t ask for military discounts on Veterans Day either. I’ve always been very proud of my father, proud to have been his son, and he’s the veteran I wish people to remember on Veterans Day.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 9 at 2022 8:57 PM

2022-11-09T20:57:43-05:00

I am proud for serving and having the jobs I had in the army. However, it does not define who I am. Who I am is a person who has to redefine myself as I get older so I can live a good life and help those that I can. Military wise. I am a has been, but I do not regret it. There is more to life than thinking about the glory of riding helicopters and tanks.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 9:48 PM

2022-11-09T21:48:21-05:00

I get asked why did I join. I say where else could I go, blow things up and not go to jail for it.

Response by Cpl Bob Lathim made Nov 9 at 2022 10:36 PM

2022-11-09T22:36:10-05:00

I am Proud of My Service in Vietnam as Marine Grunt, if people want to thank me fine, if not that is fine too, but when I came back they accused us all of being Baby Killers!!
In all my time in Nam I never killed a Child or Mother.
I DO NOT LIKE YOUR JOKE!!!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2022 11:32 PM

2022-11-09T23:32:45-05:00

For many I would say yes!

Response by AN Chalise Nash made Nov 9 at 2022 11:42 PM

2022-11-09T23:42:21-05:00

Who is to say what each person deserves. I worked with some who sat on their asses for a few years and skated by until their service was over. Others gave all they had during their time. Being a woman I was stigmatized as being lesser than a man, and had to prove I was strong and capable. I worked extra hard, but having great work ethics and pulling my weight has always been important to me. While I did one deployment to Afghanistan and don't feel deserving of all the fuss over me being a veteran, my husband did 4 deployments to Afghanistan. He missed most of our first child's two years of life and the birth and first few months of our second child's life. He has suffered mentally and physically from his service. While he doesn't need any of the free services from businesses, its nice his sacrifice is appreciated and I think it is well deserved. If you asked him, he would say he wasn't entitled to any of it, but most of us didn't join to be given a lifetime of free items. However, I won't turn down a discount, because times are hard.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 10 at 2022 12:08 AM

2022-11-10T00:08:10-05:00

Do some? Sure. You'll find assholes and special little flowers in every group of large enough size. Even elite groups, specialized groups, etc. Whether we are talking Dominican Nuns (and I *highly* respect that particular order), SF guys, offshore oil riggers, kindergartens, Buddhist monks, or anything in between.

I have no problem at all with people who are proud of their service. Not even with folks who are so proud they insist on displaying it. Not even with folks who that is ALL they have done with their life.

I do, however, have a problem with people who insist that A) *I* be proud of their service, or B) their service entitles them to anything other than their VA benefits (and a retirement check, if they made it that far).

I never ask for military discounts*, but I happily take those freely offered or advertised. Because that is what my personal sense of ethics says is the right answer.

*Except for hotels. Then I trot out my military ID, my VA ID, my AARP card, my AAA card, my student ID, my badge for my state government job, my AT&T contract, and my certificate of nobility (I am a Scottish Laird - only by technicality, but they don't need to know that.) I'm SAVING that $5 dammit.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2022 1:39 AM

2022-11-10T01:39:30-05:00

I have been doing funeral details, and turns out I will do one Veterans Day.

So there I'll be, finished with the Funeral Detail around lunch time, and I'll be in my ASU with a detail counterpart.

The temptation for the two of us to go to a place that gives out free meals while in ASU's is extremely high. I'll probably come to my senses. These details are a pretty great gig if you can work it into your schedule with any regularity. I'd hate to lose it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2022 1:52 AM

2022-11-10T01:52:51-05:00

When my grandfather passed all he had was his shadow box. He passed at 90, and retired when I was born, so even then it was a life time behind him in his later years.

I mentioned my doing funeral details and most of them the military part of their lives is NOT the focus of the services. We will show up sometimes and will surprise most the audience. What are these guys doing here, oh wow gramps was in the Army??? Yes, but that was 70 years ago. What usually happens is the funeral director his checking off a list and if military history is on that they get the ball rolling as a function of their services.

If my grandfather can put three wars behind him, tail gun instructor, glider pilot, pay roll officer and finally personnel officer (CW4) (see the progression of badassness dwindle into just getting a pay check and getting to retirement) then these one and done enlistment folks really need to check themselves. Thank those for giving the discounts and be grateful that others are grateful.

Don't let yesterday be the APEX of your life (whatever that may be).

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2022 9:05 AM

2022-11-10T09:05:41-05:00

I never ask for military discounts because it diminishes the sacrifice, mine and everyone else's. Yes, I enlisted. Yes, I swore to serve and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Yes, I put myself to the hazards. So give me a dollar off on my chicken biscuit? No.

I will certainly take one, though. Services have often offered me discounts because they saw my retired ID in my wallet, and strangers have paid for meals when they saw me in uniform. I was always very thankful for the gesture.

Response by CPO Robert Burnham made Nov 10 at 2022 7:09 PM

2022-11-10T19:09:09-05:00

Response by COL David Turk made Nov 11 at 2022 9:57 AM

2022-11-11T09:57:53-05:00

1. For some people, being a veteran is all they have. To you and me, it’s a part of what what we were. There’s worse things they could have glammed on to to get through the day.
2. As for the free/discounted stuff. When it first came out, it appeared to be a more genuine offering. Now it’s more of a marketing tool. Giving out a free meal with the probability that family is going to tag along is not a bad plan. Not only are you getting the associated paid meals, but you may get customers that had never been to your establishment (hopefully to return again). And if they tip at the non free rate, then your service staff is covered too. Same with the discount. Getting someone to concentrate their purchases at your store for a 5-10% discount is another tool in retailers belt. Plus all the great press.
Last, for some, this free meal may be the only “dining out” meal they get for a while.

So to summarize, yes, I see a lot of the “over the top” stuff, but unless it’s stolen valor, I don’t pay much attention. I figure they have other things going on with their life.

Response by 1SG Frank Peck made Nov 11 at 2022 11:17 AM

2022-11-11T11:17:03-05:00

Sometimes I feel like what you're saying, I do wear some t-shirts and hats because I am very proud of my over 35yrs. of service. I will use the discounts at Home Depot, and stuff like that. I don't go for the free meals, because it's a zoo. I feel our WWII and Korean vets, and our Vietnam Vets deserve it more because, they made it better for me.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 11 at 2022 1:22 PM

2022-11-11T13:22:08-05:00

You call, your choice, stand tall or be non-descript, its your choice.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 12 at 2022 3:02 AM

2022-11-12T03:02:27-05:00

Everything is on a Bell Curve, hence we've all seen certain Vets go mercenary for IHOP in the morning, Applebees for lunch, and Perry's for dinner. It's a statistical given. That said, it's more important to know where you are on that Bell Curve, and why. For me, this day, Memorial Day (Remembrance Day), etc. tend to be quiet times of reflection, so I'm typically found out on the spread doing light work and thinking about those who passed before me. I don't want to be bombarded with "thank you for your...". So it's home for me and this year hosting two other vets for some stir fried venison with cigars and cognac after. Our military related holidays are an opportunity to do something to honor our brethren. Let it be something other than a belch.