As a former gay Marine grunt and later an Air Force officer, your story resonates powerfully with me. I cut my career short because I was afraid I would be outed, lose my security clearance, and probably face a bad discharge.

Later in life, I watched the Veterans Administration fail to achieve anything like the basic support it needs to support former military members. Neither political party ever seems to have the basic needs of soldiers and veterans in mind.

They just like to trot us out to get votes.

So, when people thank me for my service, I usually feel pretty uncomfortable. First, I didn't join to be thanked. Second, while I'm sure the thankers are sincere, I don't even know how to begin to explain to them that their thanks do not make up for anything.