Returning home after a few days in a cabin on Lake Michigan, we spent the night in Bowling Green. In the morning, we went to Bob Evans for breakfast and I noticed an older gentlemen walk past wearing an Air Force hat. He said "Good morning" to every table as he walked by and he had the biggest friendly smile you can imagine. A few minutes later another gentleman arrived wearing a Korean War Veteran hat. The first gentlemen greeted his friend, "Good morning, Colonel." As I finished my meal and went to pay the cashier, I asked her if I could have the bill for the two older gentlemen seated in the back corner. She informed me that they were waiting on the third friend to arrive and had not ordered yet, then asked if I wanted to wait a few minutes, which I agreed to do. A few minutes later, the third veteran arrived and their order was taken. Before I could get to the register, another couple asked the cashier for the trio's bill. She told them someone already had the bill taken care of and the couple was genuinely disappointed! She said the three of them meet every Friday morning for breakfast and it is rare for them to have to pay for their own breakfasts - someone always picks up the tab for them. After a few minutes, I went back up to the register to pay their bill. The cashier told me that they get 20% off and they always extend that discount to whoever pays their bill, which came to a whopping $15, a small price for those who have sacrificed so much. I thought it was interesting and very fitting that they almost always end up getting a free meal!
Buying breakfast for some veterans
- Thread starter 427mach1
- Start date
Good job
I hope I would be aware of the same situation and act as you did.
I hope I would be aware of the same situation and act as you did.
Valmet
Single-Sixer
Very cool- love hearing about things like this
It's a different world now in regards to veterans. I retired from the Army in 2013 and served in Iraq in 2008.
When traveling in uniform it wasn't uncommon for people to walk up and thank us. Complete strangers would pay for our meals. We'd get upgraded to 1st class on airplanes.
I always felt funny about people paying for my meals and would actually prefer they didn't. When driving through Chicago area I stopped for dinner at a greasy spoon for dinner. A very sweet Black lady insisted on paying for my meal. I objected. A mild "argument" ensued. Other customers joined in taking her side. She won. I still feel bad that people who probably have less money than I do want to pay for my meal. I do greatly respect what they do even though it made me cringe.
A Brigade Commander handled it pretty well. One day a restaurant presented him with a $50 gift certificate from a nameless customer. He brought the gift certificate back to the unit and presented it to the LOWEST ranking soldier.
When traveling in uniform it wasn't uncommon for people to walk up and thank us. Complete strangers would pay for our meals. We'd get upgraded to 1st class on airplanes.
I always felt funny about people paying for my meals and would actually prefer they didn't. When driving through Chicago area I stopped for dinner at a greasy spoon for dinner. A very sweet Black lady insisted on paying for my meal. I objected. A mild "argument" ensued. Other customers joined in taking her side. She won. I still feel bad that people who probably have less money than I do want to pay for my meal. I do greatly respect what they do even though it made me cringe.
A Brigade Commander handled it pretty well. One day a restaurant presented him with a $50 gift certificate from a nameless customer. He brought the gift certificate back to the unit and presented it to the LOWEST ranking soldier.
These stories are always heart warming.
I don't wear "I'm a veteran" items and don't seek attention but I've been "outed" a couple of times-both times by my boots which may seem odd.
I stopped to assist a guy with a flat tire a few years back. He looked to be older than I so I invested the 10 minutes to help him out. As I was doing so, he asked if I had been in the service. I queried him as to why he would ask and he commented on my boots. I was wearing the last pair of issued boots I had and although they were quite worn, they were still recognizable as Army issue. He said he was USAF retired and paid attention to such things.
Another time I discovered I'd been "profiled" in a lumber store partly because of my somewhat unique military(ish) footwear. Those were "hand me downs" of considerably more recent issue than I would have received.
Sometimes it's not so much WHAT you wear as HOW you wear it that folks pick up on.
I don't wear "I'm a veteran" items and don't seek attention but I've been "outed" a couple of times-both times by my boots which may seem odd.
I stopped to assist a guy with a flat tire a few years back. He looked to be older than I so I invested the 10 minutes to help him out. As I was doing so, he asked if I had been in the service. I queried him as to why he would ask and he commented on my boots. I was wearing the last pair of issued boots I had and although they were quite worn, they were still recognizable as Army issue. He said he was USAF retired and paid attention to such things.
Another time I discovered I'd been "profiled" in a lumber store partly because of my somewhat unique military(ish) footwear. Those were "hand me downs" of considerably more recent issue than I would have received.
Sometimes it's not so much WHAT you wear as HOW you wear it that folks pick up on.
Mobuck, it is also how you act, carry yourself, the cut of your hair, and your speech. The military puts a stamp on you in so many recognizable ways. Our vets deserve our respect. Way to go 427mach1! 8)
gramps
gramps
contender
Ruger Guru
427mach1,, a great story. It doesn't surprise me much,, seeing things like this happen in rural towns etc,, where the military folks are still respected.
A.J. I know how you feel,, as a vet myself,, I am humbled occasionally. When I was in,, it was just post Vietnam,, and Rarely traveled in my Class A's. I only saw any form of respect when I was around home & folks who knew me & knew I was in the Army. For many years after,,,, I did not see anything special offered anywhere. But in recent years,,, I've seen more & more kindness towards our military & veterans than ever before. I was speechless when my meal was bought by a young lady a bit over a year ago, after she heard me speak to another vet who was leaving the restaurant. Humbled & speechless. (Those who know me understand how the speechless part is amazing!
)
But look at it like this.
We recently saw where a basketball player signed a contract to play basketball,, for a "record setting $201 million." I call that obscene. It is disgusting.
Why do I feel that way?
Because our military, all of us,,, signed a check, payable with our lives, and our pay was NOTHING compared to these kinds of wages for a person who PLAYS A GAME. Add in all the obscene amounts many of the Hollywierd stars make,,, who fight against our military, or our Second Amendment rights,, and I find it appalling at how little respect or pay we/they receive.
So, when the average person who wishes to thank us by buying a meal, or even when a corporation offers us a "discount" as their way of thanking us & showing us a little respect, I honor them by accepting.
So, A.J. you might look at it like this; That lady was truly genuine in offering to buy your meal BECAUSE she appreciates the fact you are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice. I look at it like I need to uphold the honor of serving and being a gentleman to graciously accept their kindness.
I like what your Brigade Commander did. Classy.
Lastly, a true patriot appreciates us. NOT like the female trash who posted a video of herself pizzing on the American Flag over the 4th. (She was in Pennsylvania.) Seeing that story made my blood boil.
So,,, I truly do enjoy hearing how genuine many folks are,,, in non-published media hype stories like what 427mach1 has shared.
And I'm proud to stand with all my military brothers.
A.J. I know how you feel,, as a vet myself,, I am humbled occasionally. When I was in,, it was just post Vietnam,, and Rarely traveled in my Class A's. I only saw any form of respect when I was around home & folks who knew me & knew I was in the Army. For many years after,,,, I did not see anything special offered anywhere. But in recent years,,, I've seen more & more kindness towards our military & veterans than ever before. I was speechless when my meal was bought by a young lady a bit over a year ago, after she heard me speak to another vet who was leaving the restaurant. Humbled & speechless. (Those who know me understand how the speechless part is amazing!
) But look at it like this.
We recently saw where a basketball player signed a contract to play basketball,, for a "record setting $201 million." I call that obscene. It is disgusting.
Why do I feel that way?
Because our military, all of us,,, signed a check, payable with our lives, and our pay was NOTHING compared to these kinds of wages for a person who PLAYS A GAME. Add in all the obscene amounts many of the Hollywierd stars make,,, who fight against our military, or our Second Amendment rights,, and I find it appalling at how little respect or pay we/they receive.
So, when the average person who wishes to thank us by buying a meal, or even when a corporation offers us a "discount" as their way of thanking us & showing us a little respect, I honor them by accepting.
So, A.J. you might look at it like this; That lady was truly genuine in offering to buy your meal BECAUSE she appreciates the fact you are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice. I look at it like I need to uphold the honor of serving and being a gentleman to graciously accept their kindness.
I like what your Brigade Commander did. Classy.
Lastly, a true patriot appreciates us. NOT like the female trash who posted a video of herself pizzing on the American Flag over the 4th. (She was in Pennsylvania.) Seeing that story made my blood boil.
So,,, I truly do enjoy hearing how genuine many folks are,,, in non-published media hype stories like what 427mach1 has shared.
And I'm proud to stand with all my military brothers.
graygun
Hunter
I did wear class A while traveling...early 69 to early 71(didn't care about antis and didn't receive any neg stuff). I don't wear identifying items nowadays.
Buying a meal for a Korea or WW2 vet is something I might do.
Buying a meal for a Korea or WW2 vet is something I might do.
I have many times paid for a Veterans meal. I pay behind the scene with no fanfare, and the person I'm buying for never even knows it has happened til I'm long gone.
Ironically, while I was in Florida recently, twice in a short period of time, when I attempted to pay my bill at a restaurant, I was told my meal was already paid. And I also never knew who paid.
I often wear something noting my Army unit. It's been suggested on this forum in previous discussions that doing so is pompous. Oh well. I am proud of my service. If anything causes me to wear an Army hat less often, it's only so Veterans more deserving than me would be the recipients of such gifts.
WAYNO.
Ironically, while I was in Florida recently, twice in a short period of time, when I attempted to pay my bill at a restaurant, I was told my meal was already paid. And I also never knew who paid.
I often wear something noting my Army unit. It's been suggested on this forum in previous discussions that doing so is pompous. Oh well. I am proud of my service. If anything causes me to wear an Army hat less often, it's only so Veterans more deserving than me would be the recipients of such gifts.
WAYNO.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
Hi,
I have picked up the tab for an enlisted man a time or two, and will happily do it again when the chance presents itself.
But I have mixed emotions about the higher ranking retired officers. It started with a retired USAF Lt. Col. who hung around our gun club all the time. One day the subject of retired officers' pensions came up and someone asked what he got paid. He answered, "I keep that to myself. If I told you, it would just make you mad!" He'd done 30 years, most of them as a pilot, was shot down twice in WWII, a German POW for six months the second time. His comment didn't mean much to me then, but when a high school and college buddy retired, also a USAF Lt. Col., after 20 years of driving a computer, I looked it up. For 20 years we the taxpayers paid him reasonably well for working. For 27 more years we've been paying him more than I make, and probably well more than he did for over half his career, just for waking up each morning.
I'm not mad, and I'm grateful for his service, but he can buy his own breakfast... it's still "my" (Joe Taxpayer's) money going in the till either way.
Rick C
I have picked up the tab for an enlisted man a time or two, and will happily do it again when the chance presents itself.
But I have mixed emotions about the higher ranking retired officers. It started with a retired USAF Lt. Col. who hung around our gun club all the time. One day the subject of retired officers' pensions came up and someone asked what he got paid. He answered, "I keep that to myself. If I told you, it would just make you mad!" He'd done 30 years, most of them as a pilot, was shot down twice in WWII, a German POW for six months the second time. His comment didn't mean much to me then, but when a high school and college buddy retired, also a USAF Lt. Col., after 20 years of driving a computer, I looked it up. For 20 years we the taxpayers paid him reasonably well for working. For 27 more years we've been paying him more than I make, and probably well more than he did for over half his career, just for waking up each morning.
I'm not mad, and I'm grateful for his service, but he can buy his own breakfast... it's still "my" (Joe Taxpayer's) money going in the till either way.
Rick C
Ugly Hombre
Blackhawk
I was slurping coffee reading a book one time in a local shop..
Nice looking young black lady walked over to me and said- "I just want to thank you for your service Sir". Had on a USAF tshirt on guess she knew I was retired- old as a rock- lol
"thanks miss"
Had a hard time swallowing my coffee for a few seconds.
Nice looking young black lady walked over to me and said- "I just want to thank you for your service Sir". Had on a USAF tshirt on guess she knew I was retired- old as a rock- lol
"thanks miss"
Had a hard time swallowing my coffee for a few seconds.
dg101win
Single-Sixer
My wife and I have done this numerous times for several years now.
Two weeks ago we were in Wisconsin on a weekend trip and stopped at a small town diner for breakfast. We noticed a group of about 12-15 members of the local Legion having their usual Saturday breakfast. Once they had all ordered their meals my wife got with the owner and asked him to give her the total of their combined tab.
Two weeks ago we were in Wisconsin on a weekend trip and stopped at a small town diner for breakfast. We noticed a group of about 12-15 members of the local Legion having their usual Saturday breakfast. Once they had all ordered their meals my wife got with the owner and asked him to give her the total of their combined tab.
I view it as an honor to take care of another veterans meal. Doesn't have to be a big fanfare, just do it.
Several weeks ago, I had stopped at a donut shop when several older vets came in wearing their Legion uniforms. They were part of a color guard and had just served at a funeral. I bought all of their donuts and coffee and thanked them for their service.
Very nicely done!
Another even more important contribution folks can make is offering to transport veterans to where ever they have to go for VA services. Many may be unable to drive themselves. In the 70's, I put in quite a few extremely boring days sitting in the VA hospital waiting room after driving local veterans to the VA hospital 120 miles away. I was repaid by having the privilege of spending time with the men who spent far more days being scared spitless in combat.
Rick Courtright said:
The pensions are great but... you really have to sacrifice a lot in order to get it. The greatest sacrifice I had to endure was not my personal sacrifices, but those of my spouse. When I was active duty, she could never get established with a solid full-time job for very long, since we were moving all the time. Every time we'd pull up stakes and leave a duty station, she had to endure tearful good byes to friends. We were always living in rental properties and much of our stuff just stayed in boxes. We were essentially gypsies.
And perhaps the worst was my Iraq deployment. It was actually much worse for her than for me. She had to sit home and worry. I was in Mosul and Tikrit, was outside the wire a lot but never got shot at or bombed. Never fired a shot in anger. It wasn't a hard job and it wasn't particularly scary. For her, however; every moment was sheer panic.
When I advise people about joining the US Military I make it very clear that once you join, your family joins too. It takes a special spouse to endure military service.
Would I do it all over again? Yes, but without all the missteps, screw ups, and mistakes.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
My Dad was a 20 year Navy man and here's the places we lived:
Boston, Chicago, Bremerton Washington, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Honolulu and Ford Island, Pensacola, FL ; Fraser, TN, Millington TN and finally on the South Side Base there at Millington. From there it was to Jacksonville, FL and then to Bloomingdale, PA until we finished the school year and Dad found an apartment in Port Lyautey French Morocco. After that Dad retired and we moved to Bartlesville, OK while he finished college. What ALWAYS ticked my Mom off was that the grand parents of foreign imports got BIGGER benefit checks from SS than my Dad did in pension as a 20 year Vet and THEY had never worked a day in this country nor contributed a single cent to the SS.
Boston, Chicago, Bremerton Washington, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Honolulu and Ford Island, Pensacola, FL ; Fraser, TN, Millington TN and finally on the South Side Base there at Millington. From there it was to Jacksonville, FL and then to Bloomingdale, PA until we finished the school year and Dad found an apartment in Port Lyautey French Morocco. After that Dad retired and we moved to Bartlesville, OK while he finished college. What ALWAYS ticked my Mom off was that the grand parents of foreign imports got BIGGER benefit checks from SS than my Dad did in pension as a 20 year Vet and THEY had never worked a day in this country nor contributed a single cent to the SS.
