Military service is not big in my family. It’s not one of those things my sister and I considered as we left the nest, it wasn’t even a figment of our imaginations.

But when I meet those who have served our country, I feel a certain respect for them. They were able to do something for me that I did not choose to do for them.

They believed in something strongly enough to lay their life on the line for the United States and everyone living in it.

Even if they didn’t see a day of combat, the possibility was there that they could. And they were at the ready.

I met a World War II veteran at the VFW spaghetti feed on Friday night. He unexpectedly joined the table I was at after asking if anyone was sitting there.

While he didn’t look lonely, he was alone and looked like he had something to say that I might want to listen to.

He said he volunteered himself to be drafted near the end of the war and served on a destroyer ship in the Pacific Ocean.

It was a brand new ship and after they ran through everything to make sure it worked right, the ship headed to the coast of Japan.

Just days before reaching their final destination, the U.S. dropped the atom bomb, and just like that the war was over.

Poof.

My new friend didn’t see combat, but he was willing to put himself there.

I met another veteran, this time closer to the bar and a little younger than the last, who served in the Vietnam war. He said he was part of the medical evacuation unit and only saw fire and returned it once. He never shot or killed anybody, and for that he was glad.

What he kept referring to though, was all the injured, near-dead or dead youth that passed in front of his eyes while he was in Vietnam.

I wondered how it was possible for someone younger than myself to rationally make a decision to give something to their country that could cost them dearly.

Not that every soldier had that option when the draft was still active. I think it was probably 50/50, those who decided for themselves and those whose country decided for them during Vietnam.

While now, people more often than not willingly decide to fight for their country.

It’s strange though, the difference in how this country of mine responded in the 1970s, when soldiers came home from the war unwelcome in their own country, and how people respond to soldiers returning now with respect.

I know it was a different time and things were a bit out of sorts in this country about Vietnam. But I also know I’ve heard people express similar sentiments to the Middle East conflicts we are a part of now, as were expressed about the Vietnam war.

And I’m proud to say those people choose to welcome our soldiers home with warm arms, a pat on the back and a big thank you for all that they did.