I don’t know when it first occurred to me to do this. Since I don’t have any original ideas I must have picked it up from someone or some place else.
But for the past few years, I’ve tried to make it a habit of saying “thank you for your service to our country” to uniformed men and women in the armed services and to veterans proudly wearing patches on their jackets and hats. It usually happens in airports and occasionally on elevators. But if we have more than a moment’s eye contact, I try to say, “Thank you for serving our country. I’m really grateful.”
Almost without fail the veteran or soldier responds with surprise. Sometimes there’s an awkwardness, an embarrassment born of humility. Sometimes there’s relief, as if finally noticed and appreciated. Sometimes there’s that characteristic military uprightness, as if not quite off duty and still determination to do one’s duty.
But in nearly every case I can recall, there was surprise that someone apart from their family or another veteran actually looked them in the eye and said, “Thank you.” I’m a little saddened that some of our troops sometimes feel under-appreciated, that military service has lost some of its luster, that donning the uniform with honor may feel like a thankless job.
I’m saddened, in part, because we have a lot to give God and our soldiers thanks for. Our freedoms are unprecedented and protected. Our lifestyles are lavish by any international standard. Our opportunities are wide-ranging. Our communities peaceful. I mean, when’s the last time you and I feared military invasion? In your lifetime has there been a military coup or a dictator refusing to peacefully leave office? Can you even recall a real cultural threat from a rival power?
Yet, many American citizens spend most of the calendar year wailing and moaning as if these things are realities for us. We must look foolish to refugees from Rwanda or Sudan, to persons living in shelled out houses in Syria, or to the “electorate” of countries with real voter suppression and fraud. I know we have problems in the country. But, think for a moment: Aren’t our country’s problems almost entirely of our country’s making? And aren’t our country’s problems magnified by a lack of gratitude for the blessings of God served and protected by men and women in uniform? I wonder if we would perceive fewer problems if we were more thankful.
So, might I suggest that the next time you see a soldier in the airport, rather than being a twinge jealous that they get to board the plane early, make eye contact and sincerely thank them for standing on the wall and risking their own lives and families to serve the rest of us–the sometimes complaining, sometimes ungrateful, sometimes lazy, the often overfed, over-indulged, over-entertained, under-exercised comfort-loving, risk-averse, convenience-seeking, home-building, credit-using, retirement-saving rest of us. They risk all so that we can enjoy such “freedoms.”
This Memorial Day, perhaps we should commit to give thanks and say “thank you” everyday of the year. It would be great if our soldiers were not surprised when the people they protect said, “Thank you.”