I Hate Veteran's Day

[Charon]

I Hate Veteran's Day

I hate Veteran's Day anymore after my service in Iraq putting soldiers in body bags and sending them home to their next of kin. I'm always a f-ing mess around this time of year, Memorial Day is far, far worse for me. I usually end up staying inside for a day blubbering like some little girl and sobbing to myself "why'd they have to die?!" over and over again.

I've been drinking a lot lately even though I know I shouldn't, especially since my family is full of drunks, but it just seems appropriate. That probably sounds stupid but I drink to remember and drink to forget.

Some people thank me for my service, it being Veteran's Day and all, and it embarrasses the hell out of me. "Thank you for your service"? What the f*ck does that mean? Thank you for putting what was left of some poor kid's Dad in a box and sending him back home?! God they don't even know what they are thanking me for or how shitty war really is. I don't even know how to say what I'm feeling...I'm just so mad and whenever anyone says, "Thank you for your service" it just makes me so goddamn angry. I just want to say, "What the f*ck are you thanking me for?! Thank so-and-so who went over there and died you stupid ingrate." Don't thank me for my service, thank the dead for their sacrifice.

 

[anthony]

Yep, I don't attend ANZAC day here... haven't since leaving the Army. Pretty much the same reasons... I avoid anyone firstly knowing that I served in a public atmosphere, but mostly people who don't understand such things thanking me for anything.

"Thank you for your service"? What the f*ck does that mean? Thank you for putting what was left of some poor kid's Dad in a box and sending him back home?! God they don't even know what they are thanking me for or how shitty war really is.

The thing about others thanking you for your service though, is that they don't know, they don't understand, but people can still be empathetic towards you nonetheless. Sure, anyone who has not served and starts with stupid questions... they deserve to be ignore or told to f*ckoff, but people who are grateful... well, it is not their fault they do not understand though.

I honestly believe that for the majority of society, they really just don't know how to handle speaking about war. For veterans to only say they have served on an operation to another veteran is an immediate ackowledgement of understanding and respect that you have been through the shit and understand what each has endured to a point, but without such knowledge in the first place... kind off leaves most dumb founded to only know what they see or read via the media.

 

[guydon]

It is tough and brings back many bad memories. the TV is full of war movies, and news stories, and I just avoid all of it. Recently (besides joining this forum) total avoidance has been my way of dealing with it but as time passes since my deployments (nov03-nov04 and dec 06-dec07) I find myself more able to give proper remembrance to the fallen. There has to be a better term than "happy Veterans day" though. There is nothing happy about it, and a free meal at applebees, unfortunately doesn't count as happiness.

 

[anthony]

Wow... they actually tell you, "happy veterans day" like valentines or something!!! Interesting...

 

[rmf3175]

I have no friends, and I never go anywhere, so that pretty much solves the problem of anyone thanking me for my service.

 

[anthony]

I'm not sure I would want anyone thanking me though, because I don't feel I am special for my service than any other soldier who has deployed. I wanted to join the Army, I always wanted to since about age 16. I finally did at age 24 and loved my 10 years in service. I didn't do it to serve my country, I did it because I enjoyed the Army lifestyle, the way of life itself... I didn't do it for anyone else except myself to be perfectly honest. Not sure why that would ever require to be thanked...

I think the only people who should be thanked, are those who signup and continue to take over where we left off.

 

[dave1]

I agree with everything said. The heros were those who gave up everything. We survived while doing what we had to do in the military structure. You couldn't just raise your hand and ask for a different job.

Maybe people are really saying "thank you for doing what you did. thank God I didn't have to do it." Or, "thank you for playing a part of something I don't understand, but I standing here before you because of your part in something bigger."

Fortunately, life is a process not just a series of events.