Last week, I was in training for my new federal job at the airport Holiday Inn. Every day, there were about a dozen soldiers in desert BDUs milling about, waiting for the shuttle to the airport.

It just breaks my heart to see them going. I'd see them sitting, waiting, reading the newspaper, watching the TV, thumbing through a magazine, straightening their uniforms, re-tying their boots, checking their watches, tapping their feet....

and I'd think "should I be doing something?"

I resolved that the only thing I could do is offer support. In my training last week, we spent a lot of time in the airport as well. Once again, soldiers everywhere - coming and going. You could tell who was coming back because their boots were dirty and they had this look about them.

Last week, every time I walked by one of our soldiers, I'd stop for a second and tell them that they're doing a great job, and that we're all real proud of them, and that we're all behind them.

They seemed happy and even surprised to know that somebody - even some guy they've never seen - cared enough to spend 15 seconds of his life telling them that they were doing a good job and that America was proud of every one of them.

I don't know if it really made a difference, but it made me feel good to see them crack a smile and nod. And then I realized:

I really am proud of every one of them. I wasn't just saying that because it was the "right" or "nice" thing to say.

I really am proud of our fighting men and women who volunteer to live in a desert, away from their homes, for months on end while a collection of violent, hateful people constantly devote huge amounts of time and effort to find new ways to kill them.

I wish I could send every one of them a steak, a beer, and a pat on the back. But that's impossible, at least for me.

So a simple "Good job. We're all proud of ya" will have to do for now.

XXL

 

I had the privlidge to meet a Navy ship coming back from the Gulf in July. I'd seen it on TV but there's nothing like being there. There wasn't a dry eye on the dock that day.

 

Today the Army Reserve Center down the street from my house left to deport to the Gulf. They were convoying past my house so I dressed up in my Marines blue dress uniform and rendered a salute as they passed. I've been out for four months now and have been back from Iraq/Kuwait for seven and would very much like to go back over to Iraq, I just don't want to deal with all the crap of being back at the base and stuff. Put me in the field.

BigMatt, you have know idea how much your appreciation means to these men and women returning from combat. Especially now with all the talks of the war not have being necessary. Poking around for weapons of mass destruction and uncovering mass graves of innocent people, go ahead and tell me the war was unneccesary. Thank you for the support!

 

Big MattXXL,

please keep doing this. Daily.

For a little break from the monotony you can throw in every once in a while:

"Hey Soldier, I have this Cyclops friend named Captain Fuzzy that wears Elton John sunglasses. And he asked me to tell you that you are very much appreciated and that he owes you his life and his eternal gratitude. He says: !! THANK YOU !!, from the bottom of his little black heart."

That should add a new dimension to your day. No?

 

I second this, but not just during times of armed conflict. It seems more and more these days like the only people that are vocal about their opinions regarding the military are those who are anti-military.

It does a soldier a world of good to hear, every once in awhile, that someone besides their family appreciates what they're doing. Not necessarily a particular conflict, but simply the fact that the people volunteer to risk/give their lives, if necessary, to defend our country and our way of life.

I'm not in the service any more myself, but I remember the days when I was, and I certainly know I would have deeply appreciated a simple "thank you."

 

As a 'soldier' (I am in the air force and my main concerns are if I get all my stuff moved form one house to the one down the street before my gal shows up tonight), it still feels good to feel someone say 'Thankyou' every once in a while. No matter if it is some old lady in Wal-mart or some little kid at McDonalds, or the Officer who just pulled me over for doing 20 over on his little section of highway....That word means more than most people can ever imagine. And I can only imagine how much more it means for someone who has been where the metal meets the meat.

 

www.ehowa.com has a great thing for the soldiers. the "lets bring them home" project. not neccisarily to end the war, but to help the soldiers who cant afford a plane ticket home for their christmas break. i think over 90 tickes have been payed for so far.

 

I can speak from experience about this also. When we came back from operation desert shield/storm, the 1st place we landed was new york, and the statue of liberty never looked better!!!...but to top it off, there was about 300 people waiting for us to get off the plane to say thanks and good job...and I think only 2 people from the whole company were from new york, so it's not like they knew us or something, they were doing it cause they wanted to!! that will stay in my mind forever!!

 

BigMattXXL,
Your impromptu greetings will accomplish far more good than the job you are being trained for. Keep it up!

 

Good job Matt, keep it up.