I tend to not discuss politics very often, if at all. But I saw the conversation about service members in one of the Aid threads so mosied over here to just say I'm an older veteran, and I tend to agree with those on thanking me for my service. I just thank them for their support and move along. I don't think I've ever taken a veteran or service discount, at least, not to my recollection anyways.
Every individual served(s) for their own reasons in my opinion anyways. When I joined in 88, there wasn't a lot going on job wise in the area and I was interested in the G.I. Bill for school. Just so happens I got swept up in the Gulf war. I served, I got out in 92, and moved forward in life from there. Then got ready reserved in 2002 after 9/11. I didn't then and still don't expect others to look at me differently, it wasn't like I went running to the base gates screaming YAHOO! while waving an American flag in the air.
I served, went about my business, came home and live my life. As so many others have.