Thank You For Your Service

06:59

August 10, 2011

U.S Major General James L.Terry left, Commander Regional Command South slautes as he along with other stand for American National anthem during a transfer of command authority ceremony in Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan. (AP) — U.S Major General James L.Terry, left, and other soldiers slaute during a transfer of command ceremony in Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan. (AP)

What do you say when you see a soldier in uniform, in an airport, say, or another public place? Well, it might surprise you to know that some members of the military are uncomfortable with the phrase "thank you for your service."

An English instructor at West Point makes the case for a deeper connection between civilians and soldiers in an essay for Bloomberg.com. Elizabeth Samet says the phrase "thanks for your service" has a "sort of mechanical perfunctory tone to it, as if we want to thank the soldier for serving then we want to move on to the next thing."

Guest:

Elizabeth Samet, English instructor at West Point Military Academy

This segment aired on August 10, 2011.