"My children are in the service"

[David M. Robertson]

Douglas G. Wilson wrote:

> >Does anyone know the meaning of the phrase "in the service" as used by
> >African-Americans.
> >
> >I have occasionally heard it in the expression "my child is in the
> >service" or "my children are in the service".
>
> Maybe I don't understand the question, but for as long as I can remember
> "in the service" used without any modifier means "in the Armed Forces", and
> I don't know of a difference between African-American and
> any-other-American usage here.
>

I echo what Doug said. Maybe it's a southern thing? I'm not sure where Doug is
from.

   Snake