"Thank you for your service"

 First, I have to say, I am glad the midterm election is over. Each party ripping the other with cruel words and different lies. So there I said it. Onward.

Friday was Veterans day. A day of to honor and respect for ALL of our veterans, no matter which branch, or time they served. They are the ones who joined to protect our nation and democracy. Thank you to all of you for serving. 

Yes, I am also a veteran. I don't brag about it, or wear t-shirt, caps or jackets stating the fact. It's on my driver's license and I have a section of my office wall dedicated to my time, and that's all.  "Aren't you proud to be a vet?" You ask, hell yes I am. I am not the person who wears his history on his sleeve. I am VERY proud that I served in a very bad time during Viet Nam. A VERY unpopular war, even tho it was not a war. I am also proud that for many generations the males in the Shell family who served. The first was my 5 times grandfather, Arnold, served in the Revolutionary War when the Colonials were fighting to free from King George of England.  His sons fought in the War of 1812, and several of the following Shells fought in the Civil War, WWI, Korea, WWII and Vietnam. So yes, I am proud to have joined my ancestors as vets.

But as much as I truly appreciate people telling me, "Thank you for your service", I also see this nation finally realizing how much vets put on the line for this country. Maybe because they personally saw the devastation and injuries soldiers came home with. Post Traumatic Stress, crippling disabilities both mental and physical. Or maybe it was because the after affects of 9-11 and the anger we all had for the attack and sending our young men and women into harm's way.The nation's appreciation for vets is SO MUCH more now than during Viet Nam.

Being spat on or called a 'Baby Killer' was the normal for my generation during that time, the 60s. That is why I very seldom wore my uniform coming home on leave. I was not ashamed, but I don't want to start trouble. Other times, we all rallied around the soldiers during all of the other conflicts. Over the past few years has that attitude has changed about the Viet Nam conflict. And Korea, the forgotten war? Maybe the TV series 'MASH' changed that unknowing attitude, in a comedic way.

I also believe the organizations advertising on TV, radio, and social media have helped vets to get the attention they deserve, such as Wounded Warriors, VFW, American Legion etc. The Veterans Administration is finally getting their act together to help needy vets with problems were in the past overlooked. So many homeless vets maybe will get help too. We can only hope so.

And then there are the immigrants who are appreciative enough to be admitted into our country, they also want to serve. Japanese, Chinese, Hispanic, and our own African-American and Native Americans. Sometimes they go unnoticed or forgotten.

Whenever some thanks me for my service, I get a lump in my throat from the honor being bestowed on me. I tell them it was my honor and my duty to serve this great country, like so many of my family members for so many decades. I am proud to be a part of that tradition of Shell men.

Take care, stay safe and stay USA strong. Our vets fought for that.