[FLHTbiker]

My younger brothers youngest son came home from Iraq couple of weeks ago. He is 23 now and is a Ranger and an E6 already. When he came back I went down to the local HD dealer with him and he bought a new HD Night Train, his dad had to work. His dad, my older brother and myself all ride Harley's and he has always wanted one. The kid has really changed and has become very quiet, I do understand why. He got to ride for a week and was then sent back to Iraq to finish out his third tour. When he went over there I remember him really being gung ho all Army but now he just wants to come home. After this tour he knows he will go to GA to be an instructor and then he plans on getting out. Buying his Harley now was like a dream for him and sure he probably should have waited to buy it when he gets back permanently but I understand why and probably would have done the same thing. We all went to the Airport to see him off and it was really hard.
His grandmother my mom who helped my brother raise him cried her eye's out when he left. A nice thing happened to him in Dallas TX though. His flight out was delayed a day and a couple of retired military guys put him and another vet headed back to Iraq up for the night took them to dinner and brought them back to the airport. What a stark difference from when I was in Vietnam, I think that was great and my hats off to those Texas retired vets.

[mwelych]

I like the "Train" too... Every Soldier in uniform I see I thank them for their service. Saw a couple on the planes that I went on when I visited my Dad and I thanked 'em. You don't realize how something that simple such as a "Thank You" can have an affect on someone. They all smiled and said "Thanks." Oorah for all the military peoples!!!

[FLHTbiker]

When I was flying to Vegas for the P.O.T. training with HOG I was wearing my HOG vest and it had my Vietnam patch on it. A stewardess saw it and offered me a free drink and said thanks for serving. That was sure a stark contrast when I landed in San Fransisco in 1972 from Vietnam and got spit on. I'm really glad for the guys and gals over there that at least their is support from the people here in this country whether they approve of the war or not. If I ever saw someone spit on a guy in uniform now I would probably land in jail from assault.

Well off to the Oregon coast for a 3-day weekend on the bike.

[Hot01]

I hope your nephew makes it home safely and is riding that Night Train all over the country soon.

When I was on my trip last summer, I ran into a couple of guys from the Vietnam Veterans MC in Grand Junction. I was so overcome with appreciation for my freedom by that point, that I thanked them for their service. It was the first time I'd done that. We talked for probably an hour. I have one of the guys' cards on my big trip collage. You're right. It's a simple thing to do, and it seemed to matter.

[AFNurse]

Good luck to him on the rest of his deployment! Hope he doesn't come through to see me on business.... let him know he can stop by to visit if he wants!

[FlynDutchman]

I'm glad to see a change.....Used to be nobody cared if you were active duty or a vet.......In the last couple of years when I've been out with a Marine Corps shirt on, or somebody's seen my tattoo & commented by saying "Thanks for your service" I'm at a loss....It feels wierd to me cause in 20 something years that hasnt happened to me except recently...I dont know how you guys feel about it.

[chucktx]

i feel the same as you..............

[cowboy]

I to have seen the change all for the better , heck back in 69 I was walking in a airport in unform & some azz spit on me , he got his azz wiped real fast , so yes please THANK A VET & IN SERVICE PEOPLE FOR THERE TIME