Let me tell you about a very touching experience my husband and I had yesterday on our way home from visiting with Dean's parents in Tacoma, Washington. Mom has been placed on Hospice Care since last week and so every minute spent with her is treasured. Both of us care a great deal for this dear lady who has spent the last 88 years of her life always thinking of others. Now, she is totally dependent on others to care for her.
Needless to say, our emotions have been very close to the tear ducts that seem to be connected to our hearts. We stopped along the way to enjoy a dinner at Red Lobster. We haven't eaten out in a really nice place for quite some time, and we just felt like treating ourselves to something really, really good.
We enjoyed our meal and were finishing up, when an amazing thing happened across the aisle from us. The couple (about my age) at that table had asked for their check, and the waiter came up to them, kneeled down to their level, looked them in the eyes and told them that a very appreciative elderly man and his wife had paid for their dinner. I saw shock in the couples' faces, and disbelief.
I looked at the gentleman sitting there, and it was then that I noticed the cap he was wearing and the hand carved cane that he was holding on to. His cap had the emblem of the Purple Heart emblazoned in the middle. His wife had tears in her eyes, as she said, "No one has ever done anything like this for us before. I don't know what to say." It was then that tears began to flow freely down my own cheeks and I offered the gentleman a salute of my own. He smiled at me and nodded his thanks.
Before they left, they stopped at our table and he told us the story of his service in Vietnam. He had earned "6" Purple Hearts! He said, "My whole body looks like a road map." He also shared the story of the gifts he and his wife give every Christmas to unsuspecting recipients. They go grocery shopping and when they get to the check stand, they tell the cashier to also put the person's groceries that are next in line on their bill and they will pay for both of them. I said, "What goes around, comes around!"
What an honor to know that in this world of craziness, where our country is falling apart, there are still folks out there who honor our men and women who have served our country, who still serve our country, and who will serve our country in the future.
God bless America, and God bless the citizens who still believe in Her greatness.
