A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
On Thursday, I went up to Fort Knox to promote a Soldier and present another Soldier with a well-deserved Meritorious Service Medal. On the way up, I stopped at a gas station to get a drink and take a break. Since it was during the work day, I was still in my uniform. Just before I got back into my car, I heard a voice behind me just as I was about to get in my car say “excuse me.” I turned around and there was a little boy of about 6 or 7 years holding his mother’s hand and cautiously approaching me.
“My son wanted to tell you something,” the boy’s mother said. I got down on one knee so I could be eye to eye with him and introduced myself. In the shyest voice, this little boy said, “Thank you for your service” and buried his face in his mom’s pantlegs. I eased his nervousness by giving him five and thanked him for his support. We talked for a couple of minutes and I went on my way.
It with that spirit that I present you with the Gratitude Campaign. The individual who started the Gratitude Campaign wanted to find a way to say thank you to military personnel without feeling “a little awkward for both of us.”
“I started to think that it would be nice if civilians had a gesture or sign that they could use to say “thank you” quickly and easily without even having to approach. I did some research and found the sign that we are now using.
Is this limited to the military? Not at all. If you look around you I’m sure that you’ll find lots of people who are serving their communities, from local to global. If you appreciate their service, give them a sign. Say ‘thank you,’” said Scott.
Enjoy the video and check out the full length version on their website.
http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/
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![[UPDATE] The “Face” of Military Dating Scams – The Wall of Shame](http://militarygear.com/asp/wp-content/themes/LondonLive/thumb.php?src=http://militarygear.com/asp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/2.jpg&w=53&h=41&zc=1&q=100)
Anatomy of a Military Dating Scam
@Jc great job scammers NEVER seem to get their lies right glad you sme
l_67adf48d1a7f4cfb5ad16cbc7155d263
@ No Name dont you think you can find something better to do besides a
Anatomy of a Military Dating Scam
OK how about Clement Rogers, US Army? he sent me a long email after me
Leta
Thank you for sharing this story CJ. What a wonderful little guy he was to approach you and want to say “thank you”. Obviously from a family that values our great military men and women. I’m still smiling from imagining what it must have been like.
P. S. Glad to read you knelt down to his level. That’s just so important for little ones so that they don’t feel so intimidated. Only a Dad/Mom would know to do that. Good job friend!
Tracy
Crap CJ, you made me cry with that story!! He’ll remember how you responded forever!!!!
sherry
Many times when traveling I have gotten up the nerve to interrupt men in service uniform to say “I just want to thank you for all that you do”. It was always difficult to do only because I am so sincere that tears come easily.
I just had a 4 hour layover in Atlanta Georgia two days ago. I wish I had seen the video of the graditude campaign before that time. It would have been awesome to use the hand gesture to show my feelings of thanks and gratitude.
Jody Hudspeth
Thanks I am the mother of a soldier and still sometimes for me it is awkard. Once when we traveling there was a young soldier checked inti the motel behind my husband and myself. I had the desk clerk deliver an envelope to her. It had money for her supper and a note that said thanks for all you do. These are great people who hold our freedom in their hand. God Bless them all. Jody
mikesgateway
Awesome! I always say thanks in the airport or buy them breakfast or dinner somewhere, very honored to do a VERY small thing to let them know that we are proud of them! I have tears in my eyes writing this, it is AN HONOR to have brave men and women put their lives down for all of us, even if some of us do not appreciate it, much like Jesus did! What a great thing to start for them!
Mary Lou
I was flying home from a trip and a young soldier was sitting in the middle seats of the plane. Just as we were about to deboard, someone yelled out “Where are you coming from soldier?” In a quiet voice he replied, “Iraq”. The voice yelled again, “Thank you” and the plane errupted in applause.
Little did I know that about a year later, my husband would also serve in Iraq and is now home safe and sound. God Bless our Soldiers!!!!!!!
Clement
The root of your writing while appearing reasonable at first, did not really settle well with me after some time. Somewhere throughout the paragraphs you actually managed to make me a believer but only for a very short while. I still have a problem with your jumps in assumptions and one would do nicely to help fill in all those gaps. In the event you can accomplish that, I would certainly be fascinated.