Thank you for your service

[Frank S]

To all my brothers and sisters in arms, Past present and future, no matter if you served in combat, combat support, or rear echelon. If you wore the uniform, you wrote the blank check. Thank you for your service.

[Toolmaker51]

Frank S states; "wrote the blank check", terrific summation of a concept too many take for granted.

(especially while protesting, burning flags and causing general mayhem).

[Frank S]

Frank S states; "wrote the blank check", terrific summation of a concept too many take for granted.

(especially while protesting, burning flags and causing general mayhem).

Not so much take for granted, as unless they have worn the uniform there is no possibility of them even beginning to understand why Veterans will always be a part of which ever branch of service, they served in. Or why if called back to duty regardless of age most would add more zeros to that check if need be.

[Toolmaker51]

I used your statement with some alterations for a different audience, and explaining a photo that searching my PC didn't locate.
The scene is a crowdwd public parade, though a unit carrying the flag is passing, a majority aren't rendering honors, still sitting on the curb.
To the left, a wheelchair-bound veteran IS not only in uniform, but standing and saluting.
None of those immediately around seem affected.

[Frank S]

I found this and thought it pretty much sums up most things.

To understand a Military Veteran you must know:
* We left home as teenagers or in our early twenties for an unknown adventure.
* We loved our country enough to defend it and protect it with our own lives.
* We said goodbye to friends and family and everything we knew.
* We learned the basics and then we scattered in the wind to the far corners of the Earth.
* We found new friends and new family.
* We became brothers and sisters regardless of colour, race or creed.
* We had plenty of good times, and plenty of bad times.
* We didn’t get enough sleep.
* We smoked and drank too much.
* We picked up both good and bad habits.
* We worked hard and played harder.
* We didn’t earn a great wage.
* We experienced the happiness of mail call and the sadness of missing important events.
* We didn’t know when, or even if, we were ever going to see home again.
* We grew up fast, and yet somehow, we never grew up at all.
* We fought for our freedom, as well as the freedom of others.
* Some of us saw actual combat, and some of us didn’t.
* Some of us saw the world, and some of us didn’t.
* Some of us dealt with physical warfare, most of us dealt with psychological warfare.
* We have seen and experienced and dealt with things that we can’t fully describe or explain, as not all of our sacrifices were physical.
* We participated in time honored ceremonies and rituals with each other, strengthening our bonds and camaraderie.
* We counted on each other to get our job done and sometimes to survive it at all.
* We have dealt with victory and tragedy.
* We have celebrated and mourned.
* We lost a few along the way.
* When our adventure was over, some of us went back home, some of us started somewhere new and some of us never came home at all.
* We have told amazing and hilarious stories of our exploits and adventures.
* We share an unspoken bond with each other, that most people don’t experience, and few will understand.
* We speak highly of our own branch of service, and poke fun at the other branches.
* We know however, that, if needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters and stand together as one, in a heartbeat.
* Being a Veteran is something that had to be earned, and it can never be taken away.
* It has no monetary value, but at the same time it is a priceless gift.