Posted: 10/11/2010 4:25:13 PM EDT
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Got inspired by a recent story on Fox News. Our neighborhood has an Army vet returning home after 2 years deployment, we're planning on getting flags on all the lawns, getting everyone out on the sidewalks, sign thanking him, etc. We're not telling his wife, or family.
Question is: Would you feel awkward, or weird if your neighborhood did what we're planning on doing? |
| It freaked me the fuck out when I came home from post deployment leave in late 2003. Flew in to Seattle and Security let my Parents and a few of my friends past without tickets so they could have a welcome home sign up, everyone in the terminal started clapping (not a LOT of people, was pretty late at night, but everyone who was there did). |
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Ask his wife, and hope she knows him pretty well. He might have spent 2 years in Manas doing customs inspections, or he might have been in daily firefights and seen some of his buddies die... This, family should be in the know... The deployment and homecoming affects them just as much as the returning Soldier |
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Also be willing to overlook a real faux pas when the mayor asks him if he wants a ticket to see a NASCAR race and he answers 'Fuckin' A!" 
He just might need a little time to decompress. That would be hilarious. IIRC something like this happened at a NASCAR race when they pulled up a newly returned GI on the stand and honored him.
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It's rather humbling.
I had joined active USAF reserve after being off active duty for ten years in late Aug on 90. Called up as a pharmacy officer in Jan 91 for Desert Storm and deployed to a contgingency hospital in England. About the only thing we did was freeze our butts off and tour central & souther England. We got a few patients, mostyl accident victims, sports injury type things only one surgical patient. When I got home one of our dept directors said" welcome home hero"! I commented that I was never in any danger, only possible acts frim IRA at the time, and was nowhere in harm's way. His comment , was that he did nothing and appreciated that I went. |
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When I returned from R&R, we had to check in for the R&R bird in Atlanta. When the Red Cross folks were taking us to the check-in desk, they were clapping the whole way through and yelling out something like "Heads up, US Troops coming through." Everyone around started clapping for us. It was very humbling.....
I think he would be very honored, humbled and embarrasses all at the same time. |
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Quoted: I say do it! I also agree with the awkward and honored feeling. The only other thing I would add is don't feel offended if he doesn't stick around to long to offer his thanks, he and the wife probably have some business to take care of. Best advice so far. |
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When I came home there were members from the VFW and Am Vets that came to my moms house and throw a party it was awkward and very humbling.
Its a proud moment for me....But I think it made my family feel even better than it did me. That was worth it. I think it will benefit the family more than him.... do it!!! Support their pride in him. |
| 2 years is a long time. My guess is he may have a lot of work around the house that needs done. A great way to say thank you to him and his family might be to get together and spruce up his lawn. Maybe take care of some little jobs around his place that have been neglected. It could give him some time to relax and be with his family instead of getting to work on those things right away. |
| I would suggest you guys get together and make sure the house and yard are squared away, maybe get a casserole in his fridge, do the flag thing, thank him, then let him get reset and rested. Let his family know you're there for them for a couple of days. He'll be floored. |
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DO IT! This Thank you for caring, wish every neighborhood was like yours. Definitely. Agree. Do it. In addition to honoring his service, this is a civics lesson for every kid in your family/neighborhood that participates. What he did means something and is a contribution to this nation that every citizen can be proud of . The adult's reaction to his service will make an impression on the children who observe/attend; a better one, I suspect, than the impression most of the "authority" figures they encounter in school give when the issue of "service" arises. |
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Got inspired by a recent story on Fox News. Our neighborhood has an Army vet returning home after 2 years deployment, we're planning on getting flags on all the lawns, getting everyone out on the sidewalks, sign thanking him, etc. We're not telling his wife, or family. Question is: Would you feel awkward, or weird if your neighborhood did what we're planning on doing? Absolutely not! This is something that returning troops will greatly appreciate, it's always nice that folks recognize sacrifice. |
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My son came home for R&R last May.
He arrived at the Tampa airport from Atlanta late morning when there were a lot of people at the airport. His flight had a couple of dozen soldiers on it and before anybody deplaned there was an announcement that “troops from the war zone were landing”. Delta allowed the troops to deplane first and when they came out most people in the terminal applauded and cheered. By the time we got to our car we must have had 10 people stop my son and thanked him. The security ladies gave him a hug as he walked passed. He told me he was very humbled by the reception and a little embarrassed but I could tell he was pleased. He also told me it was really interesting to come home through Bangor Maine and have the veterans greet them. |
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He also told me it was really interesting to come home through Bangor Maine and have the veterans greet them. This was one of the greatest things I've ever seen. My plane broke once we landed, so we had 300 troops stuck in the airport until very late at night/early the next morning. The greeters stayed the entire time with us until we left the airport. A very great group of people. |
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It depends on the individual. Most people would be honored by it. But some soldiers do not like such honors. Hopefully his wife knows him well enough where she knows he will like this moment. But you need to be sure. I have seen some real awkward moments in my life where a soldier did not want this type of honor and did not feel like participating in the event. Both cases were highly decorated combat veterans (not some pogue or rear echelon soldier)
FYI I spent 21 years in the active and guard so I have seen how it can play out. It is a good idea and most soldiers would really appreciate it. But I would double check to ensure it will go over good with this particular soldier. |