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During my AD career, I was stationed in areas where we were under orders NOT to wear uniform off-base.
I have also been stationed in places where it was not advised, but you could if you wanted to. At the time, it was fairly common to see civilians harassing military personnel.
As have I. I was wearing the uniform when people on the street cursed me and called me a "babykiller." And I've been in places overseas when it was advised against it. I've taken commercial air when and where (during the 80s "euro-terrorism" period) when we were advised not to even carry our ID cards, but to travel on US passports.
If I was ever "uncomfortable" in uniform, it was only because other people deliberately made me uncomfortable--but it was certainly not the uniform that made me uncomfortable. Otherwise, I'd have stayed a civilian.
My grandfather was buried in his uniform, my father was buried in his uniform, and I'll be buried in my uniform.
Anyone made uncomfortable by the uniform itself should just take it off permanently, go to Sears, and buy a suit.
But are you "uncomfortable" being seen in public in uniform?
Same goes for going to court. Often going to court for speeding tickets, etc is not related to being in the military (you're not representing the military in a military duty) yet folks do it trying to appeal to the judge's discretion.
Those that feel that they may not be appropriately representing the military, may elect to not wear their uniform. Airplanes are a good example. It's easier to fly not in uniform. Sure any service member could but they shouldn't accept an upgrade, can't she a drink, and usually have to answer more than a few questions throughout the airport and on the flight.
I meant to answer the original question about memorial day with veteran's day. It seems more symbolic and reverend on veteran's day since there are more dedicated events and the public isn't awash with a over commercializing memorial day. Even the military starts the long holiday with safety messages and the start of 100-days of summer.
I have a friend who goes ballistic but I just take it with a grain of salt. No one I know means to be disrespectful. And it's a red number on the calendar so we can be glad for that!
Regarding wearing the uniform off-post. I wore it home then changed into civvies. While stationed at the Pentagon in the mid-70s, we rotated between uniforms and civvies periodically so there would not seem to be such a heavy military presence in the D.C. area as it made some civilians nervous; at least that's the reason we were given.
I'm not a Veteran, but my significant other and several people close to me are. But on their behalf, and out of respect for all vets, living and dead, I get really annoyed at the ignorant people who say "Happy Memorial Day."
I'm posting before I have read any of the responses. Happy memorial Day? I'm not sure what's happy about it. I don't have a problem with anyone who says "Happy Memorial Day". Maybe they have the day off and they're really happy.
Soldiers, all of them, defend the right, the opportunity, to go outside and burn a hot dog once in a while. Enjoy that freedom.
OP: How do you feel about Labor Day? All The men who fought right here so you could have a job that they didnt pay you pennies for and you USED TO get Sat and Sun off or were paid additional money for your time.. Well that is until Faux News and The GOP Convienced the dummies they needed to work for peanuts so the Waltons and the Koch bros could be Billionaires..
BTW the Last WAR fought for our Freedom was WWII.. We lost Korean War didnt lose our freedom we didnt win in Vietnam or anywhere else really and we are still free... BTW what did happen was a few people and a few companies made Trillions of dollars..
When someone says “Happy Memorial Day!” to me, I reply, “Enjoy it, almost 1,300,000 million people have died on the battle field so that you can.”
Semper Fi
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