I had a hard time deciding on the title for this blog. The other contender was “Thank you for your service.”
Sue and I traveled through Tennessee last week. It’s a glorious state with a lot to see. I expected that. What I didn’t expect was the way we were treated on Veteran’s Day. I couldn’t pay for anything. When Sue and I went to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, they asked if either of us were veterans. I guess I was surprised at the question and I didn’t answer immediately, but Sue did. “Yes, my husband was in the Army.”
“There’s no charge for you today, then, sir, and thank you for your service.”
Wow, I just saved $20. That was nice.
The Jack Daniel’s tour was fun, even though it was raining cats and dogs on that fine Tennessee Veteran’s Day. Our tour guide, Melissa, made it especially so, with one great story after another. I’ve known of Jack Daniel’s for a long time; what I didn’t know was that it was a sleepy backwater distillery for most of its life until a young crooner named Frank Sinatra made it known he wouldn’t drink anything else. Frank Sinatra was buried with a bottle of Jack, along with a dollar’s worth of dimes because he didn’t know where he was going, but he knew they might have pay phones there. Frank Sinatra’s favor put Jack Daniel’s on the map, and the rest, as they say, is history.
I found out that if you work at Jack Daniel’s, you get a free bottle of Jack every month (and they are always hiring). I learned that every bottle of Jack Daniel’s ever made has been made at that plant, which is fed by an underground spring with water that is perfect for producing Tennessee sipping whiskey. I learned that you can buy Jack Daniel’s by the barrel, and more than a few folks do (they have an entire wall lined with small plaques denoting those who did). Melissa walked us through the entire manufacturing process, and as a former manufacturing guy, I found it fascinating. They have a statue of Jack Daniel standing on several large boulders and, of course, they refer to it as “Jack on the Rocks.” We opted for the tasting tour at the end, and I learned that there are actually five variants of Old No. 7. All of them are really, really good. We had a blast.
After our amazing Jack Daniel’s tour, we stopped for lunch at the Southern Perks restaurant in Lynchburg. When we ordered our lunch, the young lady behind the counter popped the same question: Are either of you veterans? Again, Sue was quick to answer, and again, the response was the same: “Thank you for your service, sir. Your lunch is on us today.”
Wow. I was speechless. A little choked up, actually. I’ve never been treated like this, and I left the Army a cool 42 years ago. I didn’t know what to say, and like always, I thought of the right response too late. When I hear “Thanks for your service” the next time, I’ll have my answer ready.
It was my pleasure.
Thank you for your service.
Try mixing Jack with Yoo-Hoo. Trust me.
Jack Hoo?
Thanks for your service Joe. That tour seemed like a blast.
It was my privilege and my pleasure, Dan.
Hi Joe, Did you get to sniff the fumes of the large barrels in the brewing room? I did and it almost knocked me over,
Hello, Jerry. We did. I probably stayed there a little too long (sniffing the fumes, that is). It was a great tour.
That’s the ” Angel’s share”.
First of all , thank you for your service!
Second of all, you have inspired me to try Gentleman Jack. I like my Makers Mark, but I will try it.
Third, you married way over your head.
You owe me a phone call.
We both married way over our stations in life, my friend.
Phone call incoming, Chief.
Joe, thank you for your selfless service to our country that has made it the greatest country on earth to live in.
I apologize for what we have let it deteriorate to in my life time, but still think its the greatest place on earth to live.
Like I said, Rob, it was my pleasure. I agree with your comments, and I’ve been to many of the other places on this planet. I don’t think the discontent and ill will are what the media make it out to be. I think we are still in great shape.