There is an ambiguous position on whether a veteran or service member should be thanked for their service to the country. On the one hand, the phrase “Thank You for your service!” expresses recognition and causes pride for this activity. On the other hand, such a phrase can cause embarrassment. Mercurio notes that it can be interpreted as a prescriptive norm that often evokes feelings of confusion, objectification, impostor syndrome, and even resentment.
In my opinion, the military profession is one of the most dangerous and significant, and not every person can cope with the tasks assigned to such employees. Military personnel who are doing their duty to the state should feel very grateful for what they are doing. In this regard, expressing gratitude to the military is an appropriate phrase. This idea can be supported by the concept of verstehen, which refers to the expression of empathy for people’s actions. Doubek rightly pointed out that the military can remember negative memories associated with the service. However, it is an integral part of the military profession, the result of which is protecting the population. Thus, the words of thanks intend to recognize the selfless service that many veterans and service members have brought.
Works Cited
Doubek, James. Don’t Say ‘Thank You For Your Service’ This Monday. Npr, 2017, Web.
Mercurio, Nicholas J. “Beyond “Thank You”: Recommended Modalities for Meaningful Civilian-Military Discourse.” Journal of Veterans Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, 2019, pp. 1-33.