i was a bit of a snotty spoiled generation x’er and didn’t appreciate our soldiers…until I was in radio as a dj with a marine who served in the first gulf war. And at the same time i also happened to roommate with a nat’l gaurd gal who shot and killed an iraqi in gulf war one–this was a very painful story for her to tell me. As i learned more about what they did, what these actual soldiers did, on a day to day basis, the un-glamourous and dirty work they did, the heroic stuff they did, the places they went, the action they saw, the action they didn’t see, etc. I saw what a shallow self centered ignoramous i was. I realized that I did NOT do these things. I did NOT serve. I chose not to. I had the choice, but didn’t want to.
its hard to describe in a comment on a blog.
it changed my perspective. from then on I at least silently when I see someone in uniform thank them for their service–and mean it.

i don’t necessarily feel bad that i didn’t serve, but since then I have a much greater appreciation and gratitude for those who do. AND I SINCERELY THANK YOU!