It seems as though I’ve been seeing more folk wearing clothing - most often baseball caps - with writing saying they are a veteran - either of a particular era or a particular branch. Most common are black baseball caps, with gold lettering saying something like “VIET NAM VETERAN” or “ARMY VETERAN.” Or maybe a specific unit or ship.
I’m not a veteran, and would appreciate if folk would offer their opinions/experiences as to why folk wear such clothng. Is it essentially the same as someone wearing hats/clothing of their alma mater? I have a baseball cap from my college, but when I don a cap, I seldom feel like publicizing something I did 40 years ago.
Do they desire that others have a certain reaction to their attire - maybe other vets feeling solidarity, or non-vets showing appreciation? Does it matter whether you just served your 2-3 years, as opposed to a longer stretch? Or whether you served in combat or overseas - as opposed to stateside?
Hubs was an active duty Marine for 18 years. When you’ve lived something for that long, it makes its mark. Plus, Marines are different.
To the subject, Hubs wears his USMC hat for the discounts. I am also a vet, but I only have it on my drivers license which I show at the dispensary. 10% veterans discount on weed, I’m totally up for that.
I’m a USMC vet. I don’t wear any veteran t-shirts or other vet clothing. People that do fall into various categories. For some it is a form of virtue signaling. There are probably even some ‘stolen valor’ non-vet types that wear that kind of clothing because they think it increases their stature in others eyes. Some wear vet clothing because they are proud of their service and want others to recognize their sacrifice/service. Some of those clamoring for recognition richly deserve it, others less so. There are folks who receive vet clothes as gifts. You have others that wear it to publicly display kinship to other vets - kinda like a big fraternity/sorority. Some wear vet clothing as a signal of desperation - I’m talking about the guys with signs at intersections. If being a vet entitles one to any consideration for rescuing them from their dire straights it’s justified in their eyes.
This is how I usually take it - much in the way some folks wear team jerseys - it can be a conversation starter. My husband and I are both vets, but neither of us wear “vet” clothing. I suppose I could pull out an old squadron ballcap if I attended a veteran function. My years of service were a defining part of my life and led to my post-service career, but personally I see myself as more than just a vet, altho I’ll take a veteran’s discount when offered!
Thanks for the responses. The less charitable part of me wonders if folk did it fro reasons such as “for the discounts” (which I don’t really understand) as mentioned above. Or as a form of “virtue signaling.”
The hats never really say whether someone served in combat - or was a cook stateside. Of course, both of them made a commitment I did not.
One guy I encountered recently wears a vest saying “Disabled Veteran.” And a lot of the panhandlers I see write the same on their signs. Hard to verify, and no way to tell if the “disability” is service-related.
Personally, I don’t wear much at all expressing my personal beliefs/affiliations, or aimed at spurring a reaction from others. I just wonder sometimes about people who do.
I suspect that the question is “why do you need to wear clothing that identifies you as a vet to get the discount?” (As you noted, you get your discount on weed through the “veteran” status on your driver’s license, not by wearing a hat.)
My dad is a Vietnam combat vet, 1st Cav. I bought him some Army sweatpants years ago when he retired and he likes them, but only around the house.
Then I got him a shirt with a 1st Cav logo and a Huey on the pocket. He REALLY likes that. He does wear it out of the house.
When he started going to the VFW about 5 years ago he asked mom to buy him a Vietnam Veteran hat with a 1st Cav pin. He wears it like a uniform to go to the post every day. It’s for sure his way to get free drinks and to spark conversation with other Vets, and to distinguish himself from the social members (non-vets who drink there).
I think he wears the hat out of the house to non-VFW places about half the time now. Being a member of the VFW and being appreciated by his fellow VFW members has made him much more proud of his service. It’s taken 50 years. I say go for it, dad.
I’m retired . I have a DD Form 2 (Retiree ID card) for all the discounts I would care to take advantage of.
I don’t have or wear any veteran-type attire. I figure everything that needs to be demonstrated about my military background will come through in my behavior and comportment.
Thank you. I tend to forget that most folks are younger than us and aren’t nearly as forgetful. Wearing the hat works better than him remembering to always ask.
I work in nursing homes and started noticing this. there is a lot of gear specific to the branch of the military but I also see vets wearing clothing that is specific, say to a ship they served on.
In the last couple of years, I’ve learned the joy of solitude, and being alone even in a crowd. I now wear plain ball caps ($4-8 at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby) when I leave the house. I do NOT want to be a conversation-starter.
I’ll mellow a bit by football season… then, I’ll be in a crowded bar, and wear a lot of green and gold (but only on game days).
Sorry I wasn’t clear. I personally don’t understand why being a veteran ought to entitle one to discounts. But that is probably fodder for a different thread.
mrAru is bald, so he wears hats in the sun - and ever single command he served in gave him an issue ballcap, so he has USS Spadefish, NSSF New London [4 different commands] USS Miami and USS San Juan, as well as a sort of generic US Navy one. He also has at least 4 ‘dixie cups’ but he doesn’t wear those unless he has to crawl into his dress blues for some reason or another [funeral stuff, or weddings, or formal occasions]
I wouldn’t say we feel entitled to a discount, but we certainly are willing to be given one. It’s the same with the old fart discounts. We aren’t entitled to one, but will happily take it if offered.
Vietnam vet, career Seabee here. I don’t wear any regalia of any sort. I don’t belong to the VFW; I don’t belong to any veterans’ groups online; I don’t sit in a bar with other vets and bitch about the military today or whine about how it was back in the day. I detest “Thank you for your service.”, which has all the sincerity of “Have a nice day.” I carry my retired ID and I display that if a store offers a discount or when a new doctor’s office asks for proof of insurance.
I’m not a self-hating vet. I did my service, and I did it pretty well. I learned a lot and it’s part of my life history, but I’ve never seen the point of dwelling in the past, although every now and then I’m reminded of Vietnam when a loud noise makes me jump. Every once in awhile I see someone wearing a Seabee hat and will strike up a conversation with him because of our common background, but that’s the extent of things.
