Air Force Wife Surprises Vacaville Firefighters By Anonymously Paying For Groceries
VACAVILLE (CBS13) — Vacaville firefighters are humbled and grateful after being honored by a total stranger's random act of generosity.
At a time when most people were honoring veterans, it was an Air Force veteran's wife who honored those firefighters with a simple, random act of generosity that's now touching hearts across the country.
The inspiring story behind the receipt started simply enough with Vacaville firefighters getting groceries at Costco on Memorial Day weekend.
"They got up to the register to pay, got an emergency call," said Battalion Chief Jeff Ryder.
The firefighters, wearing camouflage T-shirts to honor the military, responded, leaving their cart inside the store. When they came back later, they found someone paid for the groceries.
On the receipt was a heartfelt note: "Thank you firefighters for all you do -- have a good weekend," signed by an Air Force wife.
She didn't leave her name, but her selfless act of kindness leaves a lasting impression on firefighters and many others hearing the story.
The firefighters posted their thanks on Facebook Sunday, and in one day it was shared hundreds of times and liked thousands of times.
They're already paying it forward.
"Later that day [Sunday] the crew was at Lucky's," Ryder said. "There was an older couple behind them buying flowers appeared to be for Memorial Day, and the crew took some of that money and bought the flowers for them."
The firefighters have also decided to host a 90-year-old veteran for dinner at Station 71 on Tuesday.
And before any of this happened, they already planned an event at Pietro's on Wednesday night. Half of the restaurants proceeds are going to Travis Air Force Base's Fisher House.
While $123 wasn't going to break the bank, it's the thought behind the gesture and the timing that means so much.
"This was special because it's Memorial Day weekend and it happened to be an Air Force wife that did this for us," he said.
The firefighters don't know who the mystery woman is, but if she wants to come forward, they would love to be able to say thank you in person.
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