JS Tip 240: An Appreciation: Veteran’s Day

A friend of ours talks to strangers.

He usually talks to older (much older) strangers, and, in the course of the conversation, asks “What did you do during the War?”

One conversation went this way—

“I lived in Norway at the time.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I was young—twelve or thirteen. I could ski.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I carried messages for the resistance.”

“On skis? Across the snow?”

“Yes. And sometimes the solders would chase me.”

“Did they ever catch you?”

“No,” he laughed. “They couldn’t ski as well as I could.”

“Sir, thank you for your service.”

The older man smiled. “Thank you,” he said.

Think about this.

Two good things happened here.

One: Our friend explored living history. He talked face-to-face with someone who had “been there.”

Two: Respect was paid. Maybe sixty years after the fact, but respect was paid: “Thank you for your service.”

Your Assignment

On Monday, talk to three veterans. Shake their hands. Say “Thank you for your service.”