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Rode the bike to work and stopped for a cup of coffee on the way at a 24 pump station. While there I heard the sweet rumbling of Harleys pulling in. There were 6 bikers rolling in to various pumps in full club colours and patches everywhere. All of them were 65 plus years old and looked kind of rough. The funny thing is that there several people who suddenly rolled up there Windows, stopped and locked there doors, and some even walked out of their way to go around them. To me it was just funny.
Now here is the sad part. Their colours........"Vietnam Vets". They probably all served and survived the war and were out trying to have fun. These guys like all veterans, fought for the freedoms we enjoy. To be treated, by peoplestheir actions, was just disrespectful
I get the point, but I've never actually seen that reaction from the general public when 6 guys on bikes show up to get some fuel at a gas station. Never. (It helps make a point though for the rest of the post I suppose.)
Rode the bike to work and stopped for a cup of coffee on the way at a 24 pump station. While there I heard the sweet rumbling of Harleys pulling in. There were 6 bikers rolling in to various pumps in full club colours and patches everywhere. All of them were 65 plus years old and looked kind of rough. The funny thing is that there several people who suddenly rolled up there Windows, stopped and locked there doors, and some even walked out of their way to go around them. To me it was just funny.
Now here is the sad part. Their colours........"Vietnam Vets". They probably all served and survived the war and were out trying to have fun. These guys like all veterans, fought for the freedoms we enjoy. To be treated, by peoplestheir actions, was just disrespectful
Your pretty new to the whole harley thing aren't you ? They were rolling up windows and locking doors at stop lights next to me 40 years ago.......
IMO, people are reading sinister motives into a situation when there probably really wasn't any. At worse, if they did lock their doors because of the presence of the riders, they probably have been reading a lot of the recent news and possibly were scared or nervous when they saw all the patches and were thinking 'dangerous motorcycle gang.' Thats assuming its why they locked their door and you werent reading into the situation something that didnt exist. Not sinister at all.
To draw more conclusions and label this as this as an attack on vets or disrespect towards vets is ridiculous, IMO. I highly doubt that was the intent.
Sometimes I wonder if some of the vets get tired of hearing the Thank You For Your Service- suddenly it seems like an automatic thing to say, like "God Bless You" when someone sneezes? just tossing that out. I have no military background myself, so I have no idea what the life was like for them, but I sincerely appreciate all who serve- Military, Police, Fire, Medical, etc.........
I, for one, don't like the "meant for the new generation" Vets thank you for your service comment because it was meant for them, not me. Except for the 3 times from 1970 to 2006, I wasn't thanked at all. After 2006, I was but it never felt right but more like "too little too late", like the obligatory parade for us but actually meant for the 100 hour war Vets. But that's me.
I, for one, don't like the "meant for the new generation" Vets thank you for your service comment because it was meant for them, not me. Except for the 3 times from 1970 to 2006, I wasn't thanked at all. After 2006, I was but it never felt right but more like "too little too late", like the obligatory parade for us but actually meant for the 100 hour war Vets. But that's me.
I agree with you on that. My father was in Vietnam and got treated like crap when he came home. He is the reason I say welcome home rather than thank you for serving. Thank you for your service is something you say to a waitress. Welcome home is something you say to someone who has been away and fought and had friends die at the very least
I see some why some Vets dont like the 'thank you for your service' comment but I just take it in the spirit given. People who havent served dont know what to say so they use the catch phrase. Hey, at least they are giving a positive acknowledgment.
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