Posted on by Phil Strawn

Show A Little Kindness And Respect


I wrote this story a year ago but thought it would be appropriate to re-publish it today.

Last Saturday, before Memorial Day, my wife MoMo and I stopped at one of our local McDonalds for a sausage McMuffin and a Coke. Breakfast for two for under six bucks. We were on our way to Fort Worth for some items I can’t recall at this moment, but we often make the trip because our hometown, Granbury, Texas, is small, and the only place to buy things is Walmart and H.E.B. for food. I would as soon take a licking from a Cocaine Bear than shop at Walmart, but I give in, and we do; everyone in town eventually has to.

Sitting and eating our meager breakfast sandwich and sharing a Coke, I noticed an old man sitting alone at a corner table. I’m now officially an old man, but this fellow looked to be in his nineties. He wore a black ball cap that read; “Korean War Veteran” and a tee shirt with the American flag on the front; a walking Kane rested on the seat next to him. He wasn’t eating, although a sandwich and a cup of coffee were on his tray. The old fellow was unkempt and needed a shave, and his clothes showed signs that he likely lived alone and felt no need to spiff himself up for a trip to McDonald’s.

My wife says I say things that will one day get me maimed, shot, or worse, and yes, she is right. Outspokenness is a trait I tote in my back pocket, and it gets me in hot water with friends and relatives.

I got up, walking stick in hand, hobbled over to the old fellow, and asked if the folks in the kitchen got his order wrong? He replied that they had given him a more expensive sandwich and charged him more than he could afford, and he couldn’t eat eggs anymore, but it was okay; he would just drink his coffee and leave. Disrespect for our veterans, especially our older ones, who will soon be nothing but an old photograph on someone’s mantel runs deep in our society. The younger people have no idea the sacrifices these men and women made so they could drive their Teslas and keep their faces in an iPhone all day. This was one of the moments my wife MoMo frequently warns me of.

I asked to speak to the manager, a young Hispanic woman, maybe mid-twenties. I wasn’t looking for a fight or to berate anyone, but only to remind this business to treat our veterans with the respect they have earned and deserve. I wasn’t rude but direct, and I shamed her for overcharging him, and they should refund his money and apologize. She was shocked that one of her employees had committed this sin. She said she would make it right by him, but by then, he had emptied his tray into the trash can and walked out. If I ever cross paths with him again, I will buy him a big breakfast and maybe visit for a while; I bet he has some great stories to tell.

10 Replies to “Show A Little Kindness And Respect”

  1. Ohhhh K. I can comment, directly, via reading from the reader list but, can’t comment on your post from your main page. Oh, boy. I see Jetpack is f***ing up again. *sigh*

    My Ken used to go to Seabee meetings, once a month, before he had trouble walking. Since 2012, our Seabee group has lost all of its WWII & Korean veterans. Ken & Ray are Vietnam era Seabees, with Ken also being former fleet navy, part of the Cuban blockade.

    Young folks, today, are so clueless. Just this evening, I made a grocery run and the bill was $65 & some change. I am a cash kinda person. I pulled out three 20s, a five & a dollar. I counted it out to the kid at the register. He asked me “Did you do that calculation in your head?” Um…..yes….. “I can’t do that.” I was shocked. I guess if I hadn’t counted out what I gave him, he wouldn’t have known what to plug into the register for change. Some of these kids can’t even read a clock with hands.

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  2. “Disrespect for our veterans, especially our older ones that will soon be nothing but an old photograph on someone’s mantel, runs deep in our society.” A photograph on someone’s mantel? Good luck with that!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Other than the fact that many residences don’t have a mantel to display photos, it seems to me that “respect” for veterans has fallen so low that their photo may not even be given a proper display. Look at our government. Illegal aliens are given hotel rooms while veterans remain homeless. I think it’s a crime how veterans are neglected, mistreated, dishonored, and, ultimately, in many cases, forgotten. I loved the McDonald’s story. I hope you get an opportunity to buy the Korean veteran a meal someday.

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  4. You knew the right thing and more importantly, did the right thing. I think I do remember you posting this before but it deserves to be told again.

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  5. Good story. Our little town just put on White Christmas, early, to honor Veteran’s Day. And I noticed most of the bios of the actors thanked God for their success. My family has been in this little town since 1850 and I had no idea we had Elk Rapids Players. Ha. The Town Hall is directly across the street. My daughter had her wedding reception there, and I can’t tell you how it picked up our spirits. They had the veterans stand and they changed the end in that General Waverly gets accepted back into the army but decides in the end not to go. They did some pretty decent singing and dancing. But this is in MICHIGAN, remember, where we probably steal elections and all. Major swing state. But also this week, Big Rapids threw out the WHOLE township board that voted to have that Chinese factory Gretchen baby wants here. My…there IS hope after all.

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  6. Ralph Watkins was my WWII friend I had breakfast with 5 to 6 mornings each week from 2018-2021. I wrote a book called Whataburgers With Ralph (not yet published). He Died in October 2021 at 96. I haven’t had the heart to do anymore editing. I met him under similar circumstances. I’m setting on his two seater couch he gave me. It’s comforting.

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