Our country’s veterans have sacrificed so much for all of us. They’ve given up their homes, families, comfort, and safety to fight for our freedom, so we can sleep peacefully at night. While veterans do receive some benefits, like small discounts, those perks are nothing compared to what they’ve sacrificed.
But sometimes, people don’t understand the depth of their sacrifice. That was the case one day when a young veteran walked up to the counter at a fast food restaurant to order a meal. After he placed his order, he asked, “Do you offer a military discount?” What happened next took him completely by surprise.
A woman standing behind him in line spoke up, shaking her head. “You’re being rude asking for a discount,” she said. “You think you deserve special treatment just because you were in the military?”
The young soldier was probably shocked at first, but instead of staying quiet, he decided to speak up.
“It’s not a privilege, it’s a discount,” he said, looking at her firmly. “A privilege is being able to go home. To go home to your family every night. To live in a free country.”
He paused for a second, making sure she understood, then added, “Some people give up their privileges so people like you can enjoy them.”
The woman fell silent, clearly embarrassed by his words. But the story didn’t end there. As the young veteran was about to pay for his meal, a girl who was in line stepped forward and said, “I’ll cover his meal.” But it didn’t stop there! The store manager, who had seen everything unfold, stepped in and said, “No need. The meal is on us.”
The young veteran left the restaurant feeling respected, and hopefully, the woman behind him learned an important lesson. Veterans deserve our respect and gratitude, not judgment.
Do you support our veterans? Share your thoughts in the comments!
