Greg Boeser
2nd Lieutenant
As far as "Thank you for your service." goes, whether you did it for you or not is immaterial. You served. You placed your body and mind at the disposal of your country. That's something that sets you apart from most people. Those who have benefitted from the security provided by those who serve should be grateful.This emoji/smilie:
It usually accompanies the death of someone and serves no purpose other than draw attention to the person who posted it. Not sure why it annoys me so much; possibly the glib insincerity of it? You know those times at funerals when you go off and reflect, then some tool comes along and tells you how the weather is perfect for a send-off and won't shut up? I think it's that. And writing "blue skies sir" to someone you never met, who will never know you wrote it, or why. And "thanks for your service". I got paid for "serving" - I did it for me. I don't need your thanks, even if they might be sincere.
All these things have become trite and effectively meaningless. So yes, that bloody emoji annoyed me today.
Dismissing gratitude, even if you think it is insincere, is an offense against charity.
So, from one who has served to another,
thank you for your service.
Gregory Boeser, CW2,
OIF 4/2003 - 3/2004