Never Had This Happen Before - Kinda Nice

[Bama Red]

Rode my motorcycle up to Franklin (TN) yesterday for the first of a series of tests prior to my surgery on the 31st of this month at the Vanderbilt Bone & Joint Clinic. Even though it was a tad warm (88*), I wore my leathers (safety first - all the gear, all the time). Of course, my vest has various patches on it, among which are one that says "US Army Vet" and another that says "US Navy Vet".

I ate lunch at a Steak & Shake near the hospital and as I left, the lady at the booth next to mine said "Thank you for your service." I was a little surprised until I remembered the vest patches and recovered enough to thank her. When I got to the register, there was an unusually large crowd of employees waiting around. One of them said, "Sir, an anonymous donor has paid for your meal, because you're a Vet."

I gotta admit, I was more than a little overwhelmed. Never had anything like that happen before - must have been a good bit of pollen in the air, cause my eyes were waterin' when I left the restaurant.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Rode my motorcycle up to Franklin (TN) yesterday for the first of a series of tests prior to my surgery on the 31st of this month at the Vanderbilt Bone & Joint Clinic. Even though it was a tad warm (88*), I wore my leathers (safety first - all the gear, all the time). Of course, my vest has various patches on it, among which are one that says "US Army Vet" and another that says "US Navy Vet".

I ate lunch at a Steak & Shake near the hospital and as I left, the lady at the booth next to mine said "Thank you for your service." I was a little surprised until I remembered the vest patches and recovered enough to thank her. When I got to the register, there was an unusually large crowd of employees waiting around. One of them said, "Sir, an anonymous donor has paid for your meal, because you're a Vet."

I gotta admit, I was more than a little overwhelmed. Never had anything like that happen before - must have been a good bit of pollen in the air, cause my eyes were waterin' when I left the restaurant.

You are a veteran of both the Army and Navy ? I know another memeber of this site that was in the Army and Marines....Mac ( Crazyhorse ) ......Thanks for your service 

[bigvalkriefan]

Wow that's great and Thanks!

[98 T]

That's an awesome story! Good on those people for buying you lunch. And I thank you too.

Ever since  I went to the airport to welcome home an honor flight a while back, I've stepped up my efforts  whenever possible to thank anyone who I think is a Vet of any age (or active military) and I've taught my kids to show the same respect.

We should all remember more often to pay it forward.

[Jabba]

yeah... that is cool.

I have bought meals for service members, but never the other way.  Although I do not advertise it.

Not a lot of 2-service vets around.

Jabba

[SANDMAN5]

I have bought meals for service members, but never the other way.  Although I do not advertise it.

Paid the tab for what looked like a man and his daughter one day. He was
wearing a cap with a ship name and years of service, including WW2. Our
waiter said he'd be sure and tell them who paid for his meal. I said don't
you say a word or we'll never be back here again! We left before they did
so we didn't get to see their reaction. Anonymously is the ONLY way to
do it IMHO.   

[old2soon]

On my i/s windshield i have an oval sticker i got at the traveling vietnam wall. Says something like vietnam i served. Way more people now have tendered thanks for your sevice now than when i got home the first time in 1966 at Chicago ohara airport. But thats another story for another time. My vest has some nam stuff and i wear a ball cap once in awhile that says U S Navy veteran and vietnam vet. But that's just me. Thanks to any and all that have served. I'm dam glad the current vets are getting the welcome home they deserve. When ever i see a sevice member in uniform-i make it a point to thank them for what they do and what it means to me. RIDE SAFE.

[tank_post142]

i always have a handshake and a welcome home for Nam vets

[Bama Red]

I'm dam glad the current vets are getting the welcome home they deserve. When ever i see a sevice member in uniform-i make it a point to thank them for what they do and what it means to me. RIDE SAFE.

O2S - I try to do the same. Huntsville, AL, the nearest big town to Fayetteville, is an Army town. When my wife and I go there to shop, we almost always see 2-3 soldiers or Marines. I make it a point to shake their hands and thank them for their service. Its the least I can do. BTW, it always makes me wonder if I looked that young when I was in the service - these guys look like kids! God Bless 'em all!

[old2soon]

Bamared-that's cuz we have been rode hard and put up wet WAY to many times!! I know of what you speak. I see these young men and young women(in my mind they became adults no matter what their actual age as soon as they put on a uniform) and they do look extremely young. I do have some old photos that show at one time i was that young. Maybe now i'm starting to REALLY understand why i call myself old2soon. I couldn't even begin to think of my fat a$$ running up and down a flight deck now!! 66 years- C O P D overweight high blood pressure 2 divorces six kids i know about over 40 years on the road booze drugs no i ain't complaining they have all taken their toll on the old bod. We used to say-live fast die young and leave a beautiful corpse. Well i'm still here-ain't gonna have a beautiful corpse-and the younger generation has their own war. The ONLY thing that changes is the people that fight them. Don't tell me about advanced weapon design PLEASE your just as dead from a laser sighted bullet as an eye sighted arrow or anything else that makes another human dead. Didn't mean to get THAT high on the soap box. God bless ALL of our vets-past and present and god forbid-future. You would think after all the lives and money pissed away we could actually prevent war!! Wouldn't that be neat?? RIDE SAFE.

[3fan4life]

We used to say-live fast die young and leave a beautiful corpse. Well i'm still here-ain't gonna have a beautiful corpse

I remember saying that a time or two myself................... Now I find myself saying:

If I'd known I was gonna' live this long I would've taken better care of myself.

[PharmBoy]

Living here in Lawton, Ok. where Ft. Sill is located, I regularly find myself telling someone wearing the uniform "I thank you for wearing that uniform".  The new recruits usually act surprised and the older guys with a little rank are more appreciative.  In either case, we always part ways feeling a little better...JTL 

[roboto65]

Did my Basic in Fort Sill 13B anyhow always try to pay it forward and was taught to respect my elders and have the highest repect for any vet old or young.

It has always been one of my pet peeves that any young soul can die for his country but cannot drink because he is to young 

Thanks to all the Vets young and old 

[MacDragon]

Every once in a while in the little watering hole that I go to... someone will come in uniform... I buy their first drink every time.  Sometimes anonimously... sometimes I talk to them and thank them for their service and our freedom... Never can give enough.

[Ben]

I was at Viet Nam war memorial outside of Eagle's Lake NM, the lady giving the tour asked if ther were any Viet Nam vets in the audience...raised my hand..she stopped the lecture cam up and hugged me... I had the same alergic reaction..still choke up a little when I think about it

[BigAlOfMD]

I was stationed in Germany with a man that got out of the Airforce as an E-4 after 4 years and joined the Army as a warrant officer. He got a degree while in the Airforce.

I don't get out often but over the past 20+ years, I've bought lunch for 20+ active duty E-1s through E-5s.

[BigAlOfMD]

Just got my copy of Afterburner (News for USAF Retired Personnel).
There was a small artical about 30 year vet that served in Vietnam in the Navy and Deasert Storm in the Airforce.

[Bama Red]

I never saw combat in either service - just the luck of the draw, I guess. In the Navy, I volunteered for Vietnam (brown water navy, swift boats, etc.), but was turned down on three occasions.

[solo1]

We have a member in our Korean War Veterans chapter that served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnan.   He now has missed meetings lately since he's in bad health.  His wife was also in the Service.

I feel honored and humble that I'm a member in the same chapter that he is.  I served only two years and I was in Korea in 1953 but came home without a scratch mentally or physically. 

Todays service men and women are of the highest caliber and I have the strongest respect for all of them.

[Stanley Steamer]

I have bought meals for service members, but never the other way.  Although I do not advertise it.

Paid the tab for what looked like a man and his daughter one day. He was
wearing a cap with a ship name and years of service, including WW2. Our
waiter said he'd be sure and tell them who paid for his meal. I said don't
you say a word or we'll never be back here again! We left before they did
so we didn't get to see their reaction. Anonymously is the ONLY way to
do it IMHO.   

I did the same thing for a guy at the Huddle House last year....left before they told him his lunch was paid for...he looked like he was active duty....My hats off and respect go out to all Vets...Male, Female....past, present and future......

[bigguy]

Todays service men and women are of the highest caliber and I have the strongest respect for all of them.

+1 on that. Thanks to all Vets and service members. You guys are the very best of our culture. I won't always agree with you, but I'll forever be grateful for the right to argue with you that you have given me.