Let me begin with a little backstory:
I'm walking to our Colonel's class yesterday, so I'm in uniform, and I just got hit with a massive b*tch of a cold which I'm trying to get over ASAP (got my missileer physical coming up soon). Anyhow, as I'm walking, a random older gentleman walking in the other direction with a bike says in passing "Thank you for serving, sir!" I'm dumbfounded! I squeeze out a "thank you" in reply being that I had no idea how to respond, but I doubt he heard it being that we were headed in opposite directions rather quickly and my voice is all jacked up.
Now, understand, I haven't begun serving yet in a true sense. I'm AFROTC, the most experience I have is Field Training and cadet-wing-related functionality. I've never fired a gun in anger at anything but a target, never been deployed, never been shot at. Hopefully soon I'll be changing that, but it made me proud simply contemplating that I will be doing my part soon (barring unforseen circumstances, like stray busses hitting me or other undesirable events) and this guy who I never met just says thanks. The cold became a bit more managable.
So, I'd like to say "Thank You All!" to those of you who are serving or have served our Nation already. You all who know sacrafice in the truest sense, who have gone long nights, rough days, and lost friends and family to defend us.
Thank You!