Air Force Wife Pays Grocery Tab for Firefighters Called to Emergency - They Pay it Forward for Memorial Day
Firefighters in Vacaville, California received a shocking surprise while doing routine grocery shopping at a local Costco. The crew received an emergency call and had to leave their grocery-filled cart behind without paying, but when they returned, a Good Samaritan had paid their bill and left them a meaningful note.
"The note said, 'Thank you firefighters for all you do. Have a good day,' and it was signed by an Air Force Wife," Battalion Chief Jeff Ryder told KTVU. "We're hoping that that person would come by and let us thank them for it."
The anonymous woman apparently saw the firefighters quickly leave on an emergency call and was moved to do something special for them, especially given that it was Memorial Day weekend. She paid their $123.25 bill.
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"I think they are wonderful guys. They do a great job," shopper Rich Wood said. "They're great guys."
Wood himself is a veteran who served in Vietnam. He said he was surprised at how attitudes had changed since his return from the war.
"It's amazing how many people just say 'Thank you' and come up to you nowadays," he explained.
The crew of Station 74 pay $25 per shift for food, and they were determined not to let this good deed simply do away with that requirement. Instead, they went and bought Memorial Day flowers that an elderly couple was trying to buy. On Tuesday night they cooked dinner for a World War II veteran from the area.
The firefighters had already planned a fundraiser, with half of the benefits going to Travis Air Force Base's Fisher House, which helps families of injured soldiers while they are in the hospital.
"This was special because it's Memorial Day weekend and it happened to be an Air Force wife that did this for us," Ryder told CBS.
The men and women of Station 74 have hope that the anonymous Air Force wife will stop by the firehouse so they can express their full gratitude.
