On the Receiving End of Support

My husband and I just returned from three years in Germany.  Overall, our local German community was extremely nice to Americans and very accomodating.  Our on-post community was tight-knit and supportive, especially during deployment time.  I felt lucky that most of my neighbors were going through the same thing I was.  We have absolutely zero complaints about any of our surrounding communities, but one thing I think we missed out on was that great activity known as "support the troops."

Yesterday I took my parents to the South 21 Drive-In.  (I'm a huge fan of Feasting on Asphalt, so I've been trying to retrace Alton Brown's footsteps wherever I can.)  Our carhop was a delightful man who's been working at the drive-in for 40+ years.  And his son is an infantryman stationed in Italy.  We instantly got that military connection, and he began to heap praise on us.  And my husband wasn't even there!  He started bringing us free fries and drinks, and he kept saying that we military folks have to take care of each other.

It was fun to have someone single us out for being in the military.  When my husband came home to Germany for R&R, he didn't get any welcomes at the airport or pats on the back in restaurants, as I've heard many stateside servicemembers get.  Our American neighbors had their own soldiers to lavish with praise, and the Germans couldn't be expected to care one way or the other.  So R&R and his return from Iraq passed with little fanfare.  Obviously he couldn't care less and doesn't want anyone to fawn over him, but I sure get tickled when people do!  I like when they show their pride and thank him for his service.  I like when he gets recognition for the job he does.  There's nothing I like better than to hear someone gush about my husband.

So, especially since he wasn't even with us at the drive-in, I was sure flattered to be treated special for being a military family.  It's fun to see American civilians show their support, and not just when it means free fries!  We love any show of thanks or attaboys you can give our husbands and wives for the job they're doing downrange.

Do you have any good stories about civilians rolling out the red carpet for your military spouses?

Comments

[Megan]

My Husband is currently doing a year remote in Korea. When he came home for mid tour my girls and I went to the airport with sign in hand. So many people were surprised and happy to see us. Many asked how long he had been gone. One even took a picture of my girls with thier sign. While he was home we took advantage of annehieser busch's here's to the hero's program were you can go for free to a park for a day with your military ID. My husband filled out some papers for himself. The girls and I are season pass holders to sesame place so we didn't need the free ticket. When he was done they had him sign a receipt above his signature it said HERO JAMES BUTTERLY. He was thrilled as was I they gave him a copy that I am sure he will keep as a reminder that people do view him as that. Even if we just think he is doing his job.

[Bette]

For my fiance's R&R during OIF III, we met in Germany. On our last day, we stumbled across a little Italian restaurant. The waiter (and eventually the owner) discovered I spoke Italian, which started the free appetizers coming. And the special dessert plate.

But when they discovered my sweetheart was returning to Baghdad the next day, that's when the scotch and cigars came out. They closed for the afternoon, but insisted we stay. We were there for five hours, being feted. I'd been apprehensive about how an interracial couple -- one a U.S. soldier, no less -- would be received in the German countryside, but it was our best day ever.

[dizzylizzie]

we did the busch gardens free day pass too. they gave us each a special bracelet that says "Heres to the Heros" i havent taken it off since. i like the colors, they remind me of his ACU's and anytime i see it i think of him.
other than that we once had a couple pay for part of our dinner at the outback restaurant and thank him. and another person bought him a drink at the airport.

[Molly Pitcher]

There's a great local winery where they have a military discount and they are always so nice to us--Alamosa in Texas Hill Country.

Also, the Temple Symphony Orchestra offers FREE tickets to military.

Ashley Furniture used to do a great discount, but they've since cut it really low.

I often find that the further we get from Killeen, the more appreciative people are.

[LAW]

Pre deployment leave. a lovely b&b in a tiny little Mississippi home.. the "Jeff Davis Suite"... we went to pay and they gave us a note. the room was gratis, "we support our troops".

LAW

[Ariane]

This isn't anything huge to mention as is yours.. but I'll share anyway. My husband is in Japan for 6 months.. I was at work several weeks ago and had an employee walk up to me with a rose. I was on the phone with a customer so didn't think anything of it; I thought he was going to purchase it or something of the sort. After I hung up I was about to tell him that someone else in the department would ring him up when he said, "I have a special delivery for you from Chris." D'oh. Well apparently this employee used to be in the military.. a chief of some sort I believe.. but in any case, Chris called to order a rose to have delivered to me while at work. They got to talking and Chris explained to him that he was in Japan on deployment.. which is when the employee shared that he used to be in the military.. my husband says, "Oh, I guess I should be calling you 'sir' then?" Jokingly. But the employee then told my husband that he would pay for the rose for a fellow service member.. and he did just that and then delivered the rose.

Sometimes it's the little things that matter most.

[Sarah]

Ariane, that's huge enough!

The Kansas City Royals give FOUR free baseball tickets to servicemembers. We got to take my husband's parents to a game while we were on leave. And the tickets weren't bad seats either!

[just me]

Molly, you are soooo right what you said about Killeen!!!!