in one of my other posts where I said I always thank the military people who write me for serving and engineers for being engineers did I think it was weird that they did not ever think to thank a military person...honestly yes to me it is weird.

I am from a family where the only man who did not go to Vietnam is my father because he has kidney disease. I was a Vietnam baby. I sat in classrooms that had empty seats if you can imagine that all through school because there were so few children born in 1970 because everybody was overseas. Whether you are drafted or go in voluntarily, you are doing such an important function. I was raised to be grateful for all people who volunteer whether or not you agree with them from the mother who head up the PTA to the politicians down below all the way up to president and you revere those people because they do not have to step up to the plate like that. Most of them could choose lives easier and cushier and less public but they don't. There is something that drives them to want more for the public at large and their country. To me that is admirable. I wake up and every day that I turn on the news and people are concerned with Kim Kardashian's butt and all buildings are still firmly in place, I think "Thank you" to myself for all those people who serve our country in various capacities. I really do mean that. I am not saying I agree with everybody in the universe but every day I turn on the t.v. and it is not a repeat of 9/11, I breathe a little sign of relief to myself because it is not an accident. I think too many people are not aware that from that mommy who bakes the extra good cookies for the bake sale all the way up to Obama, it makes a difference in the world.

So damn straight, I think it's weird not to be grateful to the volunteers of the world in ever capacity esp. military who literally literally put themselves in harms way in the most scary of circumstances so that we have our liberties. I am sure people will disagree and that is perfectly good because that is a sign that we live in a free world because there are parts of this world that suck and I could not even post such a thing as a woman. So take that.

Terri

lol.

Well, I thank military every day and anytime I cross their path in person. I have relatives who have been everthing from Army to Seal,,,so I do appreciate it.

I dont quite see it as 'volunteering' because it does provide the income and benefits to support a family,,but I appreciate that people are interested in that career as much as I appreciate there are those interested in 'protecting and serving', or working in hospitals to save lives, or volunteering their time and effort to feed the poor in soup kitchens, or sacrificing and working hard to raise and nurture their children.

Those are some of the types of people that give me hope that we arent a totally lost species.

Well, being in the military is a voluntary thing. It's not something they have to do.

But, I absolutely appreciate and thank those people who decide to join the military and put our country ahead of themselves.

It is nice to have a like minded individual on board. Yes, it is a living with benefits but driving through war torn areas with car bombs and children with bombs strapped to them is a heck of way to make a living. My friend's son was one of the first on the ground in Iraq after shock and awe. NOT PRETTY. They didn't have a PX for months. There were no See Bees yet. He was in a tent. He was a god because he got a SATELLITE phone and then his unit could call home. It was awful. I would send him care packages and throw in OB Tampons for the girls in his unit and yes, I call them girls even though they were tough women because they were so young and I was just picturing them in the freaking heat of the desert with him on their period. Ya I know I am weird but I think about these things as I sent him every container of powdered Tang, etc. I could fit in a box. For the first few months, every pay check was a box to his address with good sunscreen until he told me they could get stuff. It was crazy. And yes, the girls/women appreciated the tampons and I sent good Midol in the big bottle too.

I agree, its voluntary, as most jobs are. I think more of unpaid work when I think of volunteering though.

I appreciate anyone who reaches out to help others, in whatever capacity or anyone who takes the risk of being called to do so at any time.

this is true too, I just dont naturally assume any one in a military goes through such life threatening situations on any regular basis if at all. Some do, most wont.

I appreciate whatever contribution is being made, and Im glad they can do it and still be provided what they need to care for family.