I tried....But I got caught.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with WHISPERING PINES REALTY 20398180

This great weekend was a lot of fun.  We spent a lot of time around the little town near our cabin.

We were in town at the Ice Cream shop when 5 of our fighting troops came in.  By the conversation, a couple of them had just got home from a tour.  The Sargent told his men that he  was buying.

While they were ordering I thanked them for their service and walked to the other side of the place.  I found the Store Manager whom I have talked with many times before.  He welcomed me and I told him about the Soldiers.

"Give them what they want and then come to me for payment."

"I can do that!" 

There was some conversation and then the soldiers went outside.  The owner came back and thanked me. He said he gave them each an extra Ice cream treat.  He also said he would split the cost for what they had wanted.  I thanked him and went out side.

There I was stopped!   "Hey, You...come here!  We know it was you!  Thanks...No one has done anything like that for us before."

"That is a small price to pay compared to all you  HEROES!"  I replied.

We talked a bit and they were on their way.  They thought that we very lucky to have met me.

They were wrong!  I am the lucky one!

 

Comments (23)

Angela & Stephen Hardiman / HouseTie.com
HouseTie.com - Spokane, WA
When first impressions count...

William, it is so nice to see a reaching hand to those who serve our country.

May 31, 2010 03:24 PM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Bill...

It's all about letting them know that their service is appreciated.

Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"

May 31, 2010 03:42 PM
Daniel Olsen
Exit Realty Achieve - Smithtown, NY

I'm sure you did more than made their day, you probably made them feel appreciate more than they had for some time. Thanks for your kindness and gratitude!

May 31, 2010 03:53 PM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Richard...thanks for the feature.   To everyone....Even at full price...it would have cost less than $20! 

$20 is a cheap price to show 5 people that you appriciate what they have done.  I just wish I could have done this without being caught! 

On the flip side...I am taking 2 of the guys and their families fihsing later this summer.

May 31, 2010 03:54 PM
Richard Thomas
Fathom Realty - Dunkirk, MD

Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. It's inspiring that such a small token of appreciaition has such a big impact. God Bless our men and women in uniform.

May 31, 2010 11:53 PM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

William:

We cannot do enough for our service men and women.  They are certainly underpaid for the job they do for all of us.

 

Jun 01, 2010 12:11 AM
Vern Eaton
Askov, MN
Realtor 651-674-7449

Bill, you are an inspiration to us all.  I would not have thought of doing that.

Jun 01, 2010 02:02 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

William......money, ice cream and the palaces of Kings come and go.......but people,... precious people, they are the real treasures and you are mining them.

Thank you

Jun 01, 2010 03:52 AM
Brian Kuhns
Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber - Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns

Nice gesture Bill, it's nice to hear of people doing random acts of kindness....especially for our service men and women.

Jun 01, 2010 05:54 AM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Bill, Let me say thank you for your kindness to our service men and women.

Jun 01, 2010 08:55 AM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

What a loving and tangible tribute to some of those serving our country, Bill!

Jun 01, 2010 09:44 AM
Therese VanderMeer
Midwest Properties of MI - Grand Rapids - Jenison, MI
Realtor-Greater Grand Rapids, MI area communities

Bill, It's often the "little things" and gestures that we all most appreciate.  What a true act of kindness and something that these young men will always remember.  Sounds like you made some friends for life too...even better!

Jun 01, 2010 09:47 AM
Randi Brammer
Randi Brammer, Acctg. - Hinckley, MN
Accountant & Tax Preparer

Bill, that was a nice thing to do.  Mya I add that it does not have to be sevice people that you are nice to.  there ae many people out there the deserve our gratitude.  I don't mean to take anything away from our soldiers...but you can be nice to others also!

Jun 01, 2010 11:55 AM
Michael Delaware
North Sky Realty LLC - Battle Creek, MI
REALTOR®, CRS, GRI

I had a similar experience about a year ago.  I was having lunch with one of my lenders, and 6 or 7 soldiers had lunch at a table near us.  We bought their entire lunch, and thanked them for their service.  It was the right thing to do.

Jun 01, 2010 02:48 PM
Cameron Wilson
Labrum Real Estate - Murrieta, CA
The Short Guy - Murrieta,Temecula,Menifee Californ

May I stand and Applaud you Bill and the fine heroes you so graciously saluted. Whether one agrees with a war those that go and courageously serve are heroes in my book.

When my brother returned from Nam he was given the finger and folks spit at him while he was hitchhiking home.

My nephew has 3 months to go on his current tour and I can't wait to salute this young man.

Jun 01, 2010 03:22 PM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

What a wonderful story. I hope others heard you call them heroes. Maybe it reminded them of our men and women who are there for us in the armed services. My nephew died in Iraq. He died a hero as far as I am concerned.

Jun 02, 2010 10:03 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

It makes you feel a bit choked up inside. The selfless act of putting your life on the line. "True AMERICAN HEROES"

Jun 02, 2010 11:30 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

I applaud your actions and hope that all of us would do the same in a similar situration

shelton

Jun 03, 2010 02:10 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Bill - This is a terrific story, and I admire your actions for those guys.  Well done, sir!

Jun 03, 2010 06:04 PM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Nice random act of kindness, we should all be so lucky to be able to do something like that.

Jun 05, 2010 06:01 AM

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