Veteran left at a loss for words by stranger's selfless act of kindness

The veteran was overcome with emotion when a younger man paid for his items at Walmart.

On March 18, 2018, Alana Ruthann shared a heartwarming story on Facebook, which took place the day before at Walmart Ankeny.

Alana was standing in line, waiting to pay for her purchases, when some action in front of her got her attention.

"I didn’t even notice the two gentlemen standing in front of me until I heard an older mans voice in confusion declare, 'Wait, what is happening? What are you doing?!'" she wrote.

The older man was donning a hat that showed he had served in the military.

"I looked up from my phone to see a younger man in front of the older gentleman respond, 'Sir, I’m paying for your items because you paid by serving my country and I’m grateful for you,'" she wrote.

According to Alana, both she and the older man were overwhelmed with emotion, while the younger man scanned his card to pay for the items.

Before he left, he said another thank you to the veteran.

"The older man was caught off guard with a loss for words, fumbling his gloves in his hands and trying desperately to hold in his emotion, as was I," Alana wrote.

As the veteran was handed his items, he asked the cashier: “What do I do now?”

"You have a good day,” the cashier replied with a warm smile.

"It was that moment I realized I had TWO heroes in line in-front of me," she explained. "My heart welled as I watched our veteran readjust his Veteran ball cap, straighten up, and hold his head with pride as he walked out knowing someone was grateful for him."

“That 20 second interaction didn’t just change the veteran’s day—it changed my day, as well as that cashier’s—because that 20 seconds showed us by looking up and slowing down—life is pretty beautiful and surely we can find something to be grateful for,” Alana concluded.

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