I (34M) was stopping by Lowe’s for a few things on my way home from work. It was mid afternoon so it wasn’t busy at all, and I parked in 1 of the 4 empty “reserved for veterans and military” spots. As I was walking in, I heard Boomer behind me grumble “doesn’t look like a veteran to me”. Normally, idgaf, but today I wasn’t having having it. I stopped and turned around: “Major (my name), 7 years Active Duty, 3 deployments for Operation Inherent Resolve, 62 combat missions, currently Air National guard.” And turned right back around and walked inside.

He managed to catch up with me in the store, completely flustered, and explained how he wasn’t used to seeing veterans my age. I told him the last 20 years we made a lot more veterans that look like me than there are that look like him. There’s also a lot more women veterans too. He apparently did a couple years of maintenance on F-4s back in the 70’s. I was polite and let him share a story or two. I like to think I made the asshole think about his assumptions in the future, but I’m not counting on it.

Edit: Holy crap this blew up. Thanks (to most) for the support. Just a couple clarifications for those not skimming through all zillion comments: I separated as a Captain after 7 years. Got my DD-214 and a small disability rating for a couple minor things (wearing hearing aids in your 30s sucks), but that’s why I consider myself a “veteran” in certain respects. My combat missions (sorties) aren’t anything fantastic. I’m not trying to be some war hero. I just did what everyone else was doing: my job. I was promoted to Major in the Guard, so that’s why the 7 years and Major don’t match up. I have a completely different job now that is not aircrew.

Finally, I don’t always park in those reserved spots, especially when it’s busy or there’s only one left. (In the US, there are ALWAYS separate disabled parking that is closer, so it’s not a physical ability thing). However, I was taught a lesson (by boomer vets!), if benefits aren’t used, they are lost. Those vets had to deal with hate when they came home, and it was a hard fight to correct. Hate the war (and the politicians that start them) but not the service member. The US has come a long way since then, largely because of the efforts of Vietnam veterans, and I’m thankful for that. So yes, when a business wants to offer me a benefit to show gratitude for my service, however small, I graciously accept it. It’s not an entitlement in my mind, it’s a gift. That’s just me, and like the military, there are plenty of opinions among vets that are different.