Our soldiers spend their days protecting our safety and freedom, and we often only think about it on a large scale. But we fail to realize that they also do little things every day that make our communities a better place.
There is no better example of this than Lt. Col. Robert Risdon Jr., a U.S. Army Ranger, who was at a local Taco Bell getting himself some dinner.
Two young boys entered the restaurant selling homemade baked goods to raise money for their church.
The boys were soaking wet, cold, and tired. Risdon could tell they were probably hungry. He asked if they had eaten dinner yet, as it was getting late. The boys, aged nine and 13, answered no, so Risdon treated them both to tacos.
Jason Gibson, a local football coach, captured it all on video and posted it to Facebook. The video has been viewed over 1.8 million times.
I was in a [Taco Bell] tonight when two kids came in trying to sell home made desserts for money.I over heard a soldier ask the kids if they were hungry and told them to follow him to the counter, he would buy them dinner. I had to video it and share.
Our troops are always taking care of us. Thank u LTC Robert Risdon please please share this....I heard the little one say I want to be just like u when I grow up and saluted him.
Though Risdon understands why people are reacting, he doesn't think this should be made into a big deal.
"I'm kinda embarrassed and humbled by the praise and don't need it," Risdon told The Huffington Post. "I am a believer that we live in the best country in the world with the best people and that acts of kindness happen every day."
The soldier sat with the boys and shared dinner and a conversation with them. Risdon says they were incredibly good kids.
"Helping them was an easy decision -- more of a reaction," he said. "They were cold, wet and hungry. They were great kids, very respectful and smart. It was the least I could do for two young Americans. They were happy to get some chow for sure, and very thankful. While eating his taco, [the 9-year-old] told me he wanted to be just like me someday and saluted me when he left the Taco Bell."
Risdon credits his military training for the way he acted, saying it was really a no-brainer.
"I think I can best sum things up as to why I did it because of a creed I live up to every day -- the Ranger Creed," the soldier said. "One line in the creed encapsulates I think why I helped, 'Never shall I fail my comrades.' [The boys] were my comrades ... It was my DUTY to help them!"