I will preface this post by stating that no personal offence is intended in the paragraph that follows, and that if anyone feels offended by my comments regarding this topic, they would do well to remember that several viewpoints exist on the subject, and perhaps that is precisely what your soldiers might think they are protecting when they do what they are being paid for...

I am sick and tired of having to endure all manner of praises for soldiers on board aircraft. It's a plane, not a Republican Party rally. In fact, I have reason to believe that some of the gentlemen in uniform seem about as thrilled as I am about all this thanking, gushing and unnecessary applause too. I mean so what if some kid sod's off to jolly ayrab land for a few weeks of target practice and sitting on his backside pointing guns at people, getting a sun tan and guzzling beer all day long.

I admit, my stance on the subject is about as popular as David Duke opening at the Apollo, but a few weeks ago, I did detect some rumblings at the gate when a couple of gentlemen did not seem too thrilled that a group of three soldiers were upgraded by a GA while these individuals presumably with top tier status were left in the rear of the aircraft. They were too nice to complain or even mention it directly to one another, but I knew what they were thinking.