World War II Vet Picks Up $1,500 Chick-Fil-A Bill For The BEST Cause

I LOVE everything about this story!

LOOK AT THAT SMILE. I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT.

According to Fox News:

One generous World War II veteran and “regular customer” at Chick-fil-A recently paid a good deed forward in honor of his 92nd birthday, footing a $1,500 bill for active-duty service members and military families at a California location of the chicken-centric chain.

Ahead of his milestone birthday on Feb. 19, Edmund Rusinek told the OC Register that the small gesture is a something of a personal tradition.

“This tradition, so to speak, got started in 1945 when I was a draftee training in Little Rock, Arkansas. To take a break from the GI food, some of my buddies and I left base for some good ol’ Southern food,” the Rossmoor resident told the outlet. “At the restaurant, an elderly gentleman stepped up to us and asked, ‘Can you do me a favor? Will you let me buy your lunch? If you want to thank me, pass it down.’”

Forever inspired by the kind deed, Rusinek says that he’s been “passing it down” ever since.

AAAAAND I’M CRYING.

(With as much bad news as I read every day, it just takes a spark of humanity to get me going. My soul craves feel-good stories.)

Now, the nonagenarian says he’s glad to be able to treat other vets and their loved ones to a surprise meal, as he resides near the Joint Forces Training Base and the Naval Weapons Station in Los Alamitos.

“There are lots of kids in the military around here, and they all look so young to me,” Rusinek said, recalling the lonesome feeling of “being a long way from home and family.”

“Back then, towns would throw Saturday night dances for servicemen stationed there so they could get off base to socialize. There’s nothing lonelier than training camp on weekends,” he recalled.

Today, Rusinek says he truly empathizes with how the military personnel working and training at the Los Alamitos hub may be feeling.

“The only thing the kids have around here is the American Legion, and that’s a bunch of old geezers like me,” he joked.

HEY! I’d hang out with that “old geezer” any day of the week! I have a feeling he’s a lot more fun than I am!

In the spirit of camaraderie, Rusinek told the Register that he wanted to let service members and their families know “that someone cares.” On Feb. 8, he strode into his local Chick-fil-A to hand over cash and his credit card to manager Giola Arkis, giving express instructions for his pay-it-forward plan.

“Edmund is a regular customer. He always comes in for a salad, cookies and coffee,” Arkis said. “We call him our local sweet thing.”

The next day, Rusinek spent three hours in the fast food chain to meet and greet service members, who expressed major gratitude for their special meal.

“Everybody was so happy,” Arkis said of Rusinek’s sweet birthday deed.

According to the manager, Rusinek spent roughly $1,500 on the chicken-centric meals for the deserving patrons – a sum he says was well worth it.

“I’m not a rich man – but this, I can afford,” he declared.

You know what?

I have a challenge for each of you.

If Mr. Edmund Rusinek’s story makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, pass it on this week. Do something nice for someone. If they ask about it, tell them to pass it on.

Maybe we can start some traditions of our own.

If you decide to take me up on this, tweet me @RedisthenewPunk or comment about it here. Let’s share the love!