U.S. Navy veteran will pay it forward

To the editor:

On Dec. 14, my wife, Jeanne, and I were having our weekly after church breakfast at Perkins near Lindale Mall. After breakfast, I was stopped by a stranger who introduced himself as a retired master chief petty officer. I was wearing my U.S. Navy veteran ball cap and the master chief said, 'Thanks for your service.”

He gave me a gift certificate to pay for part of my breakfast. This was a nice gesture from one Navy vet to another and wanted to tell him thanks very much, you made my day.

While driving home, I was thinking back to the friends I had made while serving in the U.S. Navy and Navy reserves. The master chief was paying it forward and also thanking a fellow Navy vet for serving. His kindness has encouraged me to pay it forward and find another vet I can thank for serving.

Many of us who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War recall what an unpopular war it was stateside and many of us were given the option to travel in civilian clothes to help avoid the harassment from some who were opposed to the war. We may not have been thanked for serving when we returned to civilian life, but time seems to have healed that wound and now you'll see people from all walks of life thanking a veteran.

The master chief made me feel very proud of my service and I hope others will follow suit.

Steve Hostert

Cedar Rapids