Bought Lunch for Two Soldiers
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118435)
Gainesville, Florida
September 18, 2019 11:52am CST
While I was standing in line at a restaurant to get lunch, two soldiers in the Army got in line behind me to order. As I always do when I see military personnel, I turned and thanked them for their service to our country. I then told the cashier that I was picking up the lunch tab on the two soldiers.
Does anyone else ever do this to show your gratitude toward members of our military, or am I the only one who is overly patriotic in this regard?
33 people like this
33 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Sep 19
A good deed you did there.
Its rare I see any military anymore, since this fort closed down.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
Yeah, I don’t see soldiers that often here, but I tend to see them more when I travel. I always make sure to shake their hand and thank them for their service, especially when I see older veterans.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169940)
• United States
18 Sep 19
That was sweet of you! I bet they loved you for it.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
They were kind of surprised, but very grateful for the gesture. They sacrifice so much for our freedoms, so it’s the least I could do to show my thanks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
@danthecomputer My dad was in the Navy as well.
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
18 Sep 19
Very sweet of you Jeff 
Have a wonderful day!
Have a wonderful day!2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
18 Sep 19
@moffittjc I haven’t really seen much in uniform maybe I’m not going to the same places they go to eat
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@infatuatedbby You don’t have a bunch of sailors running all over the streets of your city?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
Thank you! And if you see some of them Navy boys over your way, don’t forget to thank them for keeping you safe!
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
18 Sep 19
Good for you Jeff. I always gave the armed forces members a discount or free meals when I managed BK.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
That’s awesome April. I know we have one particular restaurant here that gives free meals to members of the armed forces.
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
@thislittlepennyearns how did you account for the inventory not matching up with the sales if you gave away all those free meals?
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
19 Sep 19
@moffittjc I wasn't supposed to, but I did. Did it for the police officers and COs too, because it was the same ones every night.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
Thank you! Do you ever Thank soldiers in your country for their service? I am curious what people in other countries do to show support for their troops.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@frenki I've had several people comment that in their country their soldiers don't go out in public in their uniforms. Here, it's not a common thing, but if soldiers are training or performing military exercises, sometimes it's easier for them to just stay in uniform than to change in civilian clothes before going out in public.
1 person likes this
@frenki (1693)
• Serbia
18 Sep 19
@moffittjc It's very different here. We are not in war now and soldires are is specific places, don't know how to say it in english, but you dont see them on street. Atleast not in uniforme.
Btw I just realized that it's "soldires" not "soliders". I don't know how I got that wrong :D
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Oct 19
@kareng The other option may have been a recruiting trip to the University of Florida. With ROTC programs in every branch of the service, I'm sure active duty military personnel are always stopping by UF to engage and interact with their ROTC programs.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Oct 19
I saw six Air Force guys yesterday when I went to lunch. Not often I get to see airmen for the Air Force, as we don't really have a base nearby. I'm thinking maybe they were on their way to, or from, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and had just stopped in Gainesville for lunch.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
Do you see a lot of soldiers in your country, and have an opportunity to talk to them?
Also, I was just thinking about you the other day, wondering if you were doing okay.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (22402)
• United Kingdom
23 Sep 19
@moffittjc Well yes we do see a lot of soldiers in the Philippines. My cousin is married to one. They love their country and put it first so I do admire soldiers.
I am now in UK Jeff and doing well by the grace of God. Still have to get used to the cold though.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Sep 19
@flapiz How exciting! Are you enjoying yourself so far? Any big cultural adjustments you’ve had to make so far?
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Sep 19
Being a blessing for others makes the Lord's heart happy. =)
I bless others whenever I can for God's Glory.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Sep 19
@moffittjc You did a lovely thing. =)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@LovingMyBabies When you lived in Jax, did you see a lot of Navy personnel around the city? I always seem to see sailors and crewmen whenever I'm in Jax.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
And that is greater than me buying lunch for someone!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
26 Sep 19
@moffittjc YES, mandatory for all men from the age of 18 and they have to go every few years until the age of 45. It is a "defensive army". Here is the description for the Swiss Official Site
"The Swiss Armed Forces defends our country and people against a military attack. It supports the civilian authorities in dealing with natural disasters and in countering serious threats to internal security. And it assists within the context of international peace support and humanitarian aid.
This means that you will never see a Swiss military bomb another country, they will come to help the populations after the bombs have been dropped.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Sep 19
@LadyDuck So they come in and clean up all the messes that the United States creates?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Sep 19
Does Switzerland even have a military?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep 19
I think we're going to be seeing a lot more in the near future. I heard word recently that the military is buying our fairgrounds, which is adjacent to our airport, to use a logistics base. Apparently, it's going to be s staging base to move supplies and equipment in and out as needed, since they have the convenience of the airport right next door. Not sure which branch of the military it will be, but I suspect it will be an army base.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Sep 19
@DianneN I don't think there will be a lot of troops stationed there, I think it will just be some warehouses and stuff where they transport equipment in and out as needed.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
28 Sep 19
@moffittjc It could be a good thing to be so close or not.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74554)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Sep 19
You are definitely showing your appreciation, for their service to our country! Good for you, Jeff:) At a gas station, I thanked a young man in uniform, for all that he does to keep us safe. I can't help it, tears flowed down my face, he probably thought that I was a nutcake
His response was kind, back to me. Here's a photo of my granddaughter Kaitlyn's boyfriend Jake, he was in Afghanistan. 'Jeff is a champ!'
His response was kind, back to me. Here's a photo of my granddaughter Kaitlyn's boyfriend Jake, he was in Afghanistan. 'Jeff is a champ!'1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
I’m not going to lie, I get choked up whenever I see our troops returning from overseas. I just know they’ve been through a lot and need our support as much as possible.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
@danthecomputer Yeah, they see and experience so much that can leave them scarred.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
@kobesbuddy I don’t think our military does a very good job of providing adequate mental health services for our veterans and active duty personnel.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
You help the homeless, I help the soldiers. We all do our small part to help!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@Ladanger I know you have a good heart Christina!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
A lot of my family members were in the military, so I understand the sacrifices they have to make.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Sep 19
@moffittjc My Dad was one of those.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@CarolDM So was my dad. He was career Navy. A fighter pilot.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Sep 19
You are good. We almost never eat out so very little chance to do that.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Sep 19
@moffittjc I would do that with ease.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@wolfgirl569 It was the right thing to do. I've got some pretty cool stories of things I've witnessed in airports as it relates to soldiers, but it would be quite lengthy to write about.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
I gave up my seat on a flight once so a soldier returning from Iraq could get home to see his family.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 19
That is very kind of you! I know many people do such an act of kindness! Hats off to you!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
18 Sep 19
@moffittjc Rarely see soldiers out in uniform here in the UK. I think that is more an American thing!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
@garymarsh6 Hmmm....your soldiers don't ever go out in public in the course of their official duty? I see members of our military all the time, just about everywhere I go.
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Sep 19
Thanks. I know many people in the US do acts of kindness to show their gratitude to soldiers, but I was curious how people in other countries treat soldiers when they see them out in public.
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
Even a handshake or pat on the back goes a long way to showing appreciation to our service members
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Sep 19
@moffittjc I tend to give a quick look that shows my appreciation.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Sep 19
I do too. I make sure to go out of my way to thank them for the job they do.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129443)
• Israel
19 Sep 19
@moffittjc
That is so so nice. You did a very good thing not only thanking them but paying for their meals.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
I try to show my gratitude when I can!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129443)
• Israel
19 Sep 19
@moffittjc
That is so so nice of you. Thank you for doing that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Sep 19
Yes, it’s definitely more of a big deal here in the US.
1 person likes this
