<p>I was in the U.S. Navy during the entire 1980s. Once I returned from overseas duty and was taking a subway through Washington DC. A young lady noticed my vacant look, and asked me if I was ok. I told her I had been dodging donkeys and cowdung for a couple years in the Azores, and was sort of bewildered by what I was seeing. She told me “Welcome home,” and I really appreciated it. Just tell the military folks you see that you appreciate what they are doing…that’s enough.</p>
<p>When I was stationed in Spain, I was the Duty Officer on Christmas Eve. Late at night I went to the 24-hour cafeteria at the on-base air terminal to get something to eat. I remember that the place had about a dozen guys there–all their respective units’ duty officers, and all sitting alone in separate booths. One guy got up and broke stiff-upper-lip protocol: he went booth to booth wishing everybody a Merry Christmas…one of the most touching things I’ve ever seen.</p>