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View Full Version : A Thank You goes a long way


FoxFireEMT
12-17-2008, 08:23 AM
Hey I meant to post this yesterday but never did.

After my Dr's appt yesterday I stopped by Chick-A-Fila to get something to eat & as I live in Dover (which is obviously near the Dover Air Force Base) we see a lot of Men & Women around in the stores. I have, since I was a young teen, & realized the signifigants of the Service Men & Women have went up to them to tell them "Thank You."

On with the story:

As I walked away from the order counter & turned around to get my condiments 4 my food I saw an AirForce Gentleman sitting there eating his food, alone. (They are usually in a group, but anyway.) So as my normal procedure is, to go up to them, Apologize for interupting what there doing, introduce myself & thank them for their service to our country & tell them that I'm thankful for them & support them.

As I did this the man became slightly teary eyed. (This guys was young, younger then I.) I'm only 26 but he was no older then his low 20's. He told me, this is the tough but yet best job he ever had. Told me he left family behind, girlfriend behind (who later he got a Dear John letter from) and a unborn son. He said he was a "big" screw up growing up & messed a lot of things up. He said he owed it to many people the gratitude that he should of gave them many years ago. ( I don't know what he did, probably just typical teen age boy stuff.) But this young man told me that this was the first time someone ever seemed to appreciate him in life. He said it made him feel good & that he was making a difference that he should of many years ago.

We conversed some more & then I left him to himself again. My point being is that you never realize how much a Thank You or even a smile can go a long way. I am grateful for our Service Men & Women. They do a lot of our country, even if they never leave the base. If it weren't for those who were willing to stand up for our country would we be where we are today? Probably not.

Thank You to all the Service Men & Women on our Board.

shewasmyshadow
12-17-2008, 08:30 AM
Thank you for being so bold. I often give an encouraging smile, but feel rude interrupting them to actually say thank you.

Come summer I pray my friend will be marrying the love of her life-a solder. I'm the matron of honor. Right now her beloved is in Africa. I hear mixed ideas about the safety of our troops there. Her heart is so heavy right now. I have to make sure I keep encouraging her to have hope. God is with her fiance, even miles away.

JackieB
12-17-2008, 08:33 AM
That was a beautiful gesture, EMT. I do that occasionally, but not as often as I should, I suppose. I'm sure you made that young man's day, and then some.

lovesfortune
12-17-2008, 08:38 AM
Well I'm a little teary eyed just reading that. I have always wanted to do that, but don't want to interrupt them either.

OwnedByOurHorses
12-17-2008, 08:41 AM
Not trying to steal your post..Just wanted to add something about the thank you to the service men and women

Standing in the airport with my son, hugging him one last time before he left for South Korea, a group of vactioners walked up to my son and said they wanted to shake his hand and tell him thank you..My son's words " Today you thank me yet I have not done my job, in 20 or 30 when I retire from my duty then thank me, as I thank my step dad who has done his duty.
The group I'm sure didn't really know how to reply to my son only turned to my husband and said thank you, and walked on

Toodlestoo
12-17-2008, 08:48 AM
OMG--that was such a touching gesture. We don't have any military around but I thank you for being so thoughtful on their behalf. Like you said, you never know when a kind word to someone will change their life!

vicklynn
12-17-2008, 08:59 AM
Great stories about your thank yous.
Bob and I went to the movies awhile back. I saw a group of soldiers, walked up to a couple of them, said, I love ya man, as I put my arms around them both. They both smiled and said, thanks. I know, if someone said thanks when I was in, or some silly I love you comment, I would of felt proud. Im sure they did, and are honored that we recognize them.

Tatesgram
12-17-2008, 09:07 AM
Foxfire, I think you carry Christmas with you all the time. For what is Christmas but showing love and appreciation to those that touch our lives. I have bought lunch for service men and I have thanked many, but you have made a commitment to doing it on a regular basis. :cheers: to you.

FoxFireEMT
12-17-2008, 09:25 AM
Owned: You tell him he may not have done "his job yet" but he still gets a Thank you from me because he has made the choice to serve our country & has enough "guts" to stand up & protect our country. That is enough for me!!! The VETs def. get the thank yous even the ones that never saw action. They still spent most of their lives training & serving in other was civilians would never think about doing.

I'm an Navy Brat myself & although my Dad never saw dangerous action, just to hear some of the stuff he talks about is enough to be grateful for what he & others do.

Tates: I just do it to show my appreciation. There are a lot of "thankless" jobs out there & there are a lot of jobs out there that people don't realize are MORE dangerous then one thinks (I work one) and although I feel it is my job & my duty when I get a thank you from a complete stranger it means more then the world. It's like your admiting they are doing something you probably could never do.

The Men & Women in the service are very brave in my opinion & truthfully are ALL my Heros. OLD & NEW!

FoxFireEMT
12-17-2008, 06:21 PM
Just another add to this.... I saw a Service women in the grocery store tonight, I did my normal thank you, shook her hand & she pulled me into a hug! **Wonderful people I tell ya!**

Apaches Mom
12-17-2008, 06:58 PM
I sit here trying to quietly wipe tears away. Your story really touched me. I have a lot of family in the service (2 cousins just got home from Iraq and another to be deployed in june)

I'm sure your simple words and actions meant so much to that young man. He will always remember that lunch and what you did for him.

FoxFireEMT
12-17-2008, 07:03 PM
I just feel that they don't get enough thanks... I, too, have many members of my family & friends part of the armed services & I always thank them when I see them too... Just something I learned to do...

WashingtonBay
12-17-2008, 07:04 PM
Very cool! Thanks for doing that EMT! I often want to but am sometimes too shy! I know we bought a round of drinks for a table full of troops at an airport restaurant once... Not to mention a group of troops coming back to fort lewis that we'd actually sent care packages to... those guys we took out for a whole night. But walking up to a complete stranger... I'm always a little too shy and I appreciate those who can, picking up the slack.