The exchange I witnessed at a Tim Hortons restaurant here in Augusta, Maine, the other day was touching, to say the least, especially with Veterans Day right around the corner.
An elderly man wearing a cap that identified him as a World War II veteran stood at the counter, awaiting his order. When the clerk brought out two breakfast sandwiches, she asked if he wanted plates, but he didn’t hear her. She asked him again, but he obviously was too hard of hearing to make out what she was saying.
At that point, a man in his 40s who was in line behind the veteran gently touched him on the shoulder, leaned close to his left ear, and repeated the clerk's question. The veteran, obviously embarrassed, sheepishly apologized and then joined his wife at their table. As he sat down, the younger man who had helped him walked over to the table and extended his hand.
“Sir,” he said, “Veterans Day is almost here. Thank you.”
The elderly veteran's face lit up as he shook hands with the younger man, his previous awkwardness replaced by a sense of pride, and the joy that comes from being appreciated by others.
An elderly man wearing a cap that identified him as a World War II veteran stood at the counter, awaiting his order. When the clerk brought out two breakfast sandwiches, she asked if he wanted plates, but he didn’t hear her. She asked him again, but he obviously was too hard of hearing to make out what she was saying.
At that point, a man in his 40s who was in line behind the veteran gently touched him on the shoulder, leaned close to his left ear, and repeated the clerk's question. The veteran, obviously embarrassed, sheepishly apologized and then joined his wife at their table. As he sat down, the younger man who had helped him walked over to the table and extended his hand.
“Sir,” he said, “Veterans Day is almost here. Thank you.”
The elderly veteran's face lit up as he shook hands with the younger man, his previous awkwardness replaced by a sense of pride, and the joy that comes from being appreciated by others.
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