Veterans Day is a strange day for most Veterans. Strangers come up to you wanting to shake your hand. Some women you don't know, want to hug in the Grocery Store. Children are encouraged to make posters with magic markers and crayons thanking you for reasons they don't even understand. Political figures kissing your ass nonstop.

People who never acknowledged your existence, all of a sudden seem to care.

Every interaction forces this thought to run through your mind:

"Is it authentic? "

Are people simply placating me, but really feel like I was a fool to serve?

Are the local and political figures using me for their own agendas?

Do they think of me as "damaged goods", because I was in combat?

And the truth is...."You never can tell!"