My husband always feels uncomfortable when people thank him for his military service.

He used to reply with something along the lines of: “You don’t need to thank me. I’m just doing my job.”

I told him a better answer would be a simple thank you.

“When people thank you for your service, they are expressing appreciation for all our servicemembers,” I said. “Be gracious and accept their gratitude.”

I meet and hear from people across the country. With the exception of the man who told me my husband was an Iraqi baby killer, Americans I’ve met — liberals, conservatives and everyone in between — recognize our troops’ service and sacrifice. Having an American public distinguish war politics from war service is significant, considering our nation is drastically divided over Iraq.

The imprint of Vietnam still mars our national conscience and few have forgotten how young Americans took their frustrations with the war out on our troops. People who remember those dismal times tell me our troops won’t be treated that way again.

These days, travelers migrate to those in uniform at airports to shake their hands. Hometown classrooms and churches send sundry items and homemade cards to Iraq. And companies large and small give donations and discounts to troops and their families.   

An Army-wife friend told me of how a diner at another table picked up the tab for the 14 uniformed servicemembers attending her husband’s farewell luncheon. 
“That wasn’t cheap,” she said. “I was greatly impressed by this man’s act of kindness.”

An old friend, who is a military police officer in the Reserves, still smiles when she thinks of the customer who paid for her cup of coffee at a gas station. The man left before she could say thank you.

“A complete stranger whom I will never know, loves our troops and I was on the receiving end of his kindness,” she said. “Made my day.”

Another friend, whose husband is in Iraq, told me she ordered a case of her husband’s favorite brand of mustard from a store in his hometown.

“They returned my money and sent me a case with a thank you letter for everything my Ronnie is doing,” she said. “I know it was just mustard but it made me cry that they would do that for him. It really was a nice gesture.”

A few weeks ago while on a trip to California, I overheard a woman thank my husband for his service.

“Thank you,” he said with a smile.

Tanya Biank is a journalist and syndicated columnist with CinCHouse.com. Tanya’s book “Army Wives” is the basis for the Lifetime TV drama “Army Wives.”