Dear Annie: I proudly served in the military for nearly 40 years, and during that time, I experienced a wide range of challenges and rewards. Now, in civilian life, whenever people find out about my service, their immediate response is often, “Thank you for your service.” While I deeply appreciate the sentiment, I find myself unsure of how to respond. Simply saying, “You’re welcome” feels inadequate, considering the complexities of my experiences and the emotions tied to my years in uniform.