A majority of younger veterans said they feel uncomfortable when they are told “thank you for your service,” a new poll found.

Ahead of Veterans Day on Saturday, a survey found disparities between young military members and their older counterparts in how they prefer to be recognized for their service.

Among younger military members and veterans — age 18 to 29 — 70 percent said they feel uncomfortable or awkward when they are thanked for their service. Only 24 percent of older members, 65 years and up, say the same, the Endeavor Analytics and YouGov poll found.

“This data shows that military service members and our veterans want Americans to go beyond small talk to connect with them on a deeper level, including learning more about their service, honoring each veteran’s service in ways in which they feel comfortable talking about it,” Robert F. Whittle Jr., retired Army major general and United Services Automobile Association (USAA) chief of staff, said in a statement.

144 points

It’s a weird thing to do. The lionization of the military is unhealthy for a democracy.

Thank a teacher, doctor, scientist or firefighter instead.

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62 points

Don’t forget postal workers!

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23 points
*

Also sanitization workers. We shouldn’t underestimate the importance of keepings things clean, have the sewage running, or taking our trash.

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4 points

They truly are the thin brown line.

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8 points

streets and sans is my heroes

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3 points

Thank you for not going postal!

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2 points

And tip them for Christmas!

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1 point

Grocery stockers. Janitors. Maintenance personnel. HVAC servicefolks.

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12 points

Convenience store workers are the true heroes under fire.

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8 points

I’m a volunteer firefighter. When i first met my neighbour(an american who was previously in their army no less) he said “thank you for your service” upon learning this. I can confirm that I also felt awkward as fuck hearing that phrase.

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93 points

I’ve always thought it was more for the person doing the thanking wanting everyone around know they’re more patriotic than everyone else

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50 points

Performative patriotism.

No different than trying to have the most flags on your house.

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4 points
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Goes right along with their performative prayer

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4 points

Oh man. Yeah. I won’t get into that dick waving contest. I just make sure mines the biggest.

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3 points
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I guess I always thought it was the thing to do, growing up in the wake of viet nam. I don’t anymore b/c I’ve heard from many not to.

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87 points
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Deleted by creator
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13 points

This sounds like the most concise description of the experience

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24 points

“I was trained to be a killer for 8 weeks, and was nothing but for 21 years. I was given 2 weeks to become a civilian again.”

-MSgt Brad “Iceman” Colbert

(Apologies if not fully accurate, I’d have to go find the interview again)

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69 points

34 here, I absolutely hate being told thank you for my service and generally don’t reveal I was in the military if I can avoid it. I have no interest in being associated with the crowd of morons happy to send other people’s kids to war and then refuses to take care of them when they come back.

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26 points

Every time I see someone with one of those fucking hats on (you know the ones) it makes me cringe so hard. Like those dudes who get there basic training company tattooed on their arm, or even worse, a combat patch tattoo hahaha. You now how many fucking boots got first cav tattoos after deployment? Lol. POGs everyone of them.

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1 point

Can you tell me which hats. Sorry not sure which hat you mean…

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4 points

The hats that say “Vietnam vet” or “first cav” or have an OIF ribbon on it or whatever

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0 points

Eh, they can have a purpose. If you don’t want anyone to talk to you then you wear the dirty salt stained one. Or if you’re tired of people assuming your service dog is fake then put on a nice clean one. Instantly 100% less questions about “why do you have a dog?”

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2 points

Shhhh. He is legend

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60 points

Hell I’m 50 and I hate that shit. It’s the most pandering, “thought and prayers” bs since “thoughts and prayers”

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49 points

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