Veterans Day

[DJD]

Wanted to say a heart felt thank you to all of you who have served. Thank you!

[MsgMills]

Ty,

And to all my fellow veterans..I salute you as well for your service to our great Country.....

[zx150]

Wanted to say a heart felt thank you to all of you who have served. Thank you!

Ditto!

[LJP]

Ty,

And to all my fellow veterans..I salute you as well for your service to our great Country.....

Thank you MsgMills for your service. I also want thank all my fellow veterans for serving our Country.

[RoadToad]

Thank you MsgMills, Grumpy (wherever you are), all the rest on here I'm missing, and all veterans everywhere!

Oh, and Happy Birthday to my brother!

[Tyme2fish]

Thank you. U.S. Army 1970-1972

And no, I'm not going out anywhere to get a free lunch or dinner.

[coombro]

Well you guys certainly deserve a free dinner thanks for your service!

[HURRICANEBOB]

Vets day, got notice a good friend died unexpectedly Wednesday and services were Friday. He looked healthy as a bull a week ago when I saw him, he's one year older than me, yet he came home Wednesday with a stomach ache, and died in his sleep the same night. His pump went.

Went to the services that included a retiree honor guard and firing squad representing all services. Small church outside Boston KY, was packed to standing room only. I left there drained. Seeing a friend gone, seeing the magnificent showing of all the folks that cared and had been touched by his life. I'll admit it, I'm allegeric to funerals for friends...they make my nose run and eyes water. Came home and just relaxed most of the day.

Saturday, for diner, went to O'Charlies in Etown to get a beer and a bourbon, just wanted to be around people while I waited for some carry out to take home. As I ordered over the bar, I told the bar maid I was a vet. She smiled, and said thanks, but vets day was Friday. I smiled back, shook her hand, and said, "I know, my bad, but thanks anyway".

About 10 minutes later, the Manager walks over and introduces himself. He asked what service I was in. I told him I was retired Army, and retired Army Civil Service. He asked, "If you could do it again, would you and what would you change?". I answered "In a heartbeat I'd do it again, and the only thing I'd change, is I'd have taken better care of the buddy I just buried today in the hopes that'd he'd be here talking to you right now about me".

Manager actually teared up, said his Army Dad died in Iraq. He shoke my hand, said thanks, and excused himself.

Minutes later, as my food came bagged up ready to go, the bar maid presented the check. 1/2 the food items on the bill were crosssed off, a $10 coupon for my next meal was attached, and my bar bill was zero'd out.

On the back, a handwritten note signed by the bar maid and the bartender said " You we're late serving us, so we don't think it's too late to return the favor".

I just wanted to share this, and to say "Thanks", to all those who remembered and said "Thanks". I guess this is part of the reason young men and women still go into harms way voluntarily for the good old U.S.A.!

[DJD]

Sorry for your loss Bob. It's tough for sure and I'm glad you got the little token of appreciation from some fine folk after that sad day, the manager sounds like a stand up guy and I can only imagine the emotions he was going through. God bless.