Is it appropriate to greet veterans with “Happy Veterans Day” or “Thank you for your service”? Here’s what veterans had to say:
Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Veterans Day may look different this year, but knowing what to say to a veteran on the national occasion remains the same.
Veterans will be honored throughout the nation and across the world on Thursday in a celebration that dates back more than 100 years, to the signing of an agreement to stop World War I hostilities.
“What one veteran may find nice, another may find disrespectful or condescending,” American Legion deputy director of media relations John Raughter told USA TODAY.
“There are 19 million veterans, and 19 million varied points of view.”
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According to Raughter, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, it’s best to thank a veteran for their service and then start listening, since if a veteran feels comfortable, they’ll open up more.
“This is not the time to express political beliefs or inquire about how many killings or fights they have participated in,” he remarked. “It is important to remember that Veterans Day is for all veterans, not just those who have been in combat.”
It is not encouraged, according to Raughter, to make a veteran feel less of a veteran if they were never deployed in the course of their military duty.
Shawn Brown, a U.S. Army veteran, told USA TODAY that individuals should avoid appearing as if they understand what a veteran has gone through.
“It gets under people’s skin, particularly if the veteran served in the trenches and lost siblings and sisters in combat,” Brown said.
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“Just be regular and ask them about their biggest personal and professional triumphs, if they chose to share.”
Veterans Day, according to Akilah McNair, a U.S. Army veteran, is not the time to declare you don’t support the military.
“I’ve heard individuals say they don’t support the military because they don’t support war,” she added, “but I haven’t had many terrible encounters with it.”
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Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, on which the United States commemorates dead troops. Raughter said that you have greater leeway in finding suitable things to say.
“I believe the one thing that really irritates most veterans on Memorial Day is saying ‘Happy Memorial Day,'” he says. “It’s not pleased.”
Raughter said that just praising veterans for their service is sufficient, and that if there is a veteran-owned company in your neighborhood, you should go visit and support it.
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Is it OK to say ‘Happy Veterans Day’ or ‘thank you for your service’? Here’s what veterans say
