The Gratitude Salute

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Have you ever seen a member of the military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how, or it felt awkward?


Please everybody take just a moment to watch..... The Gratitude Salute
...and then teach it to your friends!

THEN START USING THE SIGN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSfFYxSdKdo


--Chelsea McMurdo--

[pdcorlis]

That is so cool - thank you for the link!

[Arizona Scot]

Very nice thank you for sharing, many times I have wanted to say thanks and wasn't sure how to.

[KFCarter]

Thank you for this post.

[RonnieMac13]

I have already started sharing this post, thank you.

[dfmacliam]

That is good... People are grateful and want to show their appreciation... while service men and women do what they do, not for fame and glory, but to make a difference.. To show them, they are appreciated, makes it worth while..

When we returned from Beirut in 1983, as we left the ship, and were being bused back to Camp Lejuene, about 10 people were on the side of the road with signs that simply said "Thank You". I think every Marine I saw was smiling ear to ear.. it was a simple gesture and still means a lot to me, after all these years.

[irishrob]

Most excellent! Thank you for sharing. This is ever so much more appropriate and appreciative than when I came home in 1970. Actually, I teared up.

Rob

[English Bloke]

... When we returned from Beirut in 1983, as we left the ship, and were being bused back to Camp Lejuene, about 10 people were on the side of the road with signs that simply said "Thank You". I think every Marine I saw was smiling ear to ear...

In 1999, we were bused from the Airport to the Docks at Thessaloniki to pick up our vehicles to drive up through Greece and Macedonia prior the move into Kosovo, we were met with graffiti at the Dock gates that read "NATO baby killers go home". Nothing like making a Bloke feel welcome... I suppose it's all about perspective.

I'm liking this Thankyou hand gesture though. Infinately better than some gestures I've had thrown at me while I was serving.

[EagleJCS]

Looks like modified ASL (American Sign Language). The ASL sign for 'thank you' is a hand to your lips, then dropped forward - almost like blowing a kiss, but your lips aren't puckered.

(I've picked up a couple of ASL signs over the years, but just very basic: yes, no, thanks, you're welcome).

[Squeaky McMurdo]

That makes sense. When I received this in an email it said a man from Seattle invented this sign. I thought that the sign he "invented" WAS the sign for "Thank you" and so I left that part out. But it sounds as if I was slightly mistaken and that he indeed modified it a little to be more heart felt and unique.

--Chelsea McMurdo--