About 5 years ago I had an opportunity of shaking the hand of a WWII veteran - what a great honor it was for me! There are very very few of them still living today. Maybe none now.
It is of equal honor for me to shake the hand and thank every veteran I see. I only served 4 years in the USAF during the peaceful Reagan years. So i regard my veteran status as small in comparison to those who served any time SHTF.
Thank you to all fellow veterans, especially war time veterans!