Happy Happy Happy Birthday geekyrappinghood! I apologize for the late tumblr greet!

frostings:

I was sitting in the bus this morning when an elderly man with a cane sat in the seat in front of me. He was wearing a dark green overcoat and a soldier’s cap that declared that he was a member of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines. On the other side of his cap, it read that he fought in the Korean War.

Without really thinking about it, I stood up and tapped him on his shoulder. “Veteran po kayo?” (“Are you a veteran?”) and he said yes.

I offered my hand and he took it. I shook it with as much warmth as I could. “Thank you po for fighting for us.” I really didn’t know what else to say, but I wanted to say more. He’s probably shown more bravery and courage than I can hope to see in this lifetime. I didn’t know him, but I admired him. Peacetime people like me wouldn’t understand what he went through, and I won’t even try. But the least I can do was thank him, because I knew I would regret it forever if I didn’t.

I didn’t have time to ask him his name because the bus was moving and I didn’t want to inconvenience the other passengers. But a few moments after I sat down again, I saw that he started to silently weep.

(Now I feel like a dick.)

But do thank your veterans if you run into them. The awkwardness is temporary, it’s the thought that counts.

 Made me silently weep too =p

Hold on that feeeeeliiiing!