Veterans of the United States military have made the ultimate sacrifice to put their lives on the line to protect the rest of our freedoms. Unfortunately, they often find themselves being under appreciated and ignored when they return home from their years of selfless service.

In the video below this story, an older veteran who served in the Vietnam War recalled an unforgettable night when a group of young Marines showed their respect for him while he was dining out with his wife.

Lou Zezoff was out to dinner with his wife in their hometown of Granite City, Illinois one night when four young Marines from a neighboring table walked over to shake his hand and thank him for his service. Lou was touched by this gesture and thought it would end there, but he could not have been more wrong!

When Lou called the waiter over to bring the check, the server approached with a huge smile on his face and said that it was “his lucky day” as the four young Marines had paid for his meal.

Lou went right over to the Marines and told them that they did not need to pay for his dinner, as a simple thank you was enough. The group of young Marines insisted, stating that it was their way of showing gratitude for Lou’s service.

“They filed in front of my table, stood in line, and each one of them again put his hand out, shook my hand, thanked me, hugged me, and walked to my right,” Lou said.

This just goes to show how powerful a gesture of gratitude can be to a veteran. Please pay it forward by performing an act of kindness for a veteran the next time you get the chance to do so!