A U.S. Navy veteran touched the hearts of thousands when he posted a news post to a local cafe showing his loyalty to the restaurant.
Mr. Lee, as he is known, is an Army veteran who lives in Pensacola, Florida. Visit Scenic 90 Cafe For breakfast every morning.
Lee, who served in the U.S. Navy for more than 30 years, goes to a West Florida diner every morning for a good meal and a good chat.
Server Kelly Gomez has been waiting for Lee for at least a year. She told Fox News Digital that Lee loves sitting at the counter and sharing stories with staff.
“He just comes in in the morning and eats breakfast…He loves to sit there and tell us his stories and memories with his wife and kids,” she said. Ta.
Every morning, Lee orders the house special, which includes over-easy eggs, cheese grits, biscuits and sausage patties, and sometimes comes back for lunch.
She said his presence is always the first seat at the cafe's counter and the staff look forward to it every day.
“This is [veterans’] Everyday lifestyle,” she said.
“It’s humbling to know that this is where they want to be.”
The cafe posted a photo of Lee on Facebook, which sparked a conversation about Lee and his kindness.
The photo shows him separating the coffee filters, and Gomez said he started doing it one day after seeing his staff trying to do it themselves.
“He loves watching us separate the coffee machine filters.” [and] He watched us grind coffee, and one day he started helping out,” she said.
Mr. Gomez said that Mr. Lee's current work is mostly separating coffee filters.
Lee, a widow who is a few months shy of her 90th birthday, still drives to and from the cafe every day, said her daughter, Tracy Rutland.
“He has the gene. His parents lived to be 96 and 98, and his grandfather lived to be 101,” she said.
Rutland said he was “very surprised” when he shared some of the positive comments he received on the cafe's Facebook post.
“He said, 'They call me a hero, but there's no way I'm a hero,'” she recalled.
Mr Rutland said Mr Lee chose to help cafe staff “because that's how he was raised”, noting that Mr Lee had always offered a helping hand.
Her daughter said she remembers from a young age that Lee would always be the first to help her when she heard of a need.
Scenic 90 Cafe owner and chef Gus Sirivos told FOX News Digital that his cafe is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. This concept was built as an old fashioned diner in his style for a reason.
“The people who come and sit there are mainly single or widowed, and they really interact with the staff,” he said.
Sirivos said it's an excuse for veterans and members of the retirement community to get out of the house and connect with young people working at the cafe.
“They are [the senior customers] I just love connecting [the staffers] And share your stories,” he continued.
Lee will turn 90 in March 2024, but even before the attention on social media began, Arian Pearce, the cafe's director of marketing and PR, told FOX News Digital that staff members planned to celebrate Lee. He said he is establishing a
“The servers were already planning to decorate his chair and give him balloons,” she said.
The cafe is currently asking for birthday cards to be sent to honor Lee's life and accomplishments.
If you are interested, please send a congratulatory card to Scenic 90 Cafe, 701 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, Florida, 32503.
