Brighten Your Day

Lost Elderly Veteran Is Treated With Nothing But Kindness At West Virginia Restaurant

December 16, 2021

An act of kindness at a family-owned restaurant in West Virginia has captured the attention of many on social media.

The photo shows an elderly veteran sitting with a Morgantown police officer at the Boston Beanery Restaurant.

Credit: Mike Forte

Mike Forte snapped the photo and shared the story on his Facebook page. This is what he wrote:

"A heart-warming Christmas story:

An elderly man wandered into the Boston Beanery Restaurant in Morgantown this evening. Sensing something was wrong, the host summoned owner Angie Way Blankenship. She asked him if he was here with someone or how he got here, but he could not remember. She asked if he knew his name and he said "Of course I know my name!" But he couldn't answer her.

The Beanery gave him a meal and a soft drink. A Morgantown Police officer came to assist and sat with the man for over an hour, eventually finding out that he had a son (the officer contacted) and that he would come to pick him up.

I wish we would hear more stories like this in the media about the kindness of our local businesses and especially about our dedicated local police officers!

His son did arrive and took him safely home."

Blankenship spoke with a local news station about the incident.

"I said, it's okay, honey. We're going to take care of you. We're sure there is somebody that is looking for you. We're going to find out where you're supposed to be. I said, let's sit up here, and I'll get you something to drink. If you're hungry, we'll get you something to eat," she told WDTV.

Blankenship said the family was grateful for her kindness and the time spent helping this man.

"It takes a village. We need each other, that's the thing. I didn't do anything. I was just here," she said.