It’s not every day you encounter some real-life heroes, and you certainly don’t anticipate seeing them in the checkout line in Walmart.

But that is exactly what happened to Alana Ruthann. While in line at Walmart, waiting to checkout and absorbed by her phone, she was changed.

“There I was caught in the rush of life yesterday at Walmart Ankeny annoyed that I was standing in a line (God forbid I wait for something in this ‘instant- I need it now life’)….holding a few items in my hands ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day festivities, absorbed in my own world of technology while looking down at my phone, I didn’t even notice the two gentlemen standing in front of me until I heard an older man’s voice in confusion declare, ‘Wait, what is happening? What are you doing?!'” Ruthann posted on her Facebook.

It was then that Ruthann looked up to see what was happening.

An older man had been checking out in front of her wearing a Vietnam Veterans hat when a younger gentleman approached him.

That’s when Ruthann heard the younger man say, “Sir, I’m paying for your items because you paid by serving my country and I’m grateful for you.”

The younger man quickly paid for the veteran’s groceries and left.

The Vietnam Veteran was in shock and asked the cashier what he was supposed to do next unsure of how to handle the generosity.

The cashier, full of warmth, replied that he should have a good day.

“It was that moment I realized I had TWO heroes in line in front of me. My heart swelled 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,” Ruthann posted on her Facebook.

It’s amazing how a small act of kindness can mean all the difference to someone.

“What a feeling- in this life where we rush through with our eyes down at a screen full of negativity and disagreements – to have someone simply say ‘I’m grateful for you.’ 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, ” Ruthann said.

If we remember our history lessons, we’ll remember the way Vietnam veterans were treated upon arrival back in America.

There were no welcome home parades and soldiers were called baby killers. The country was divided on the war itself and took their feelings of anti-war out on the soldiers who had no say in the matter.

This act of kindness may not be able to make up for the way America treated soldiers as a whole but it’s great to go out of our way to let them know we appreciate them in any way we can.

Here’s hoping we’re all a little more inspired to see (and be!) the good in this world.

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Source: Alana Ruthann, History Channel, Spotlight Stories