The price of freedom is often paid in training incidents, family difficulties most often involving finance, depression resulting from the realization the nation is ungrateful for sacrifice, hopelessness at finding employment after the commitment is fulfilled.
The soldiers of today deserve more than they're getting. They are enduring endless deployments and dangerous assignments. Please adopt a local VFW or American Legion chapter and find out how to do something to help today's soldiers and their families who need your help.
At the very least, when you're strolling through an airport, butt in whenever you have the opportunity to pick up the tab for a GI in uniform as he's handing over payment to the cashier. You'll feel good about it, and he'll appreciate it. Just say, "I've got this one." That means more than, "Thank you for your service."