This 91-year-old veteran was eating alone before this waiter's kind act won hearts on Facebook
A sweet story behind images of an elderly man and his waiter is being shared by thousands on Facebook.
Lisa Meilander of Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania, was eating dinner with her family at Eat'n Park restaurant in Belle Vernon, when the man, known as Frank, sat down to eat his meal alone.
Moved by the moment, Meilander snapped photos of Frank and his server, Dylan Tetil. She shared the pictures on Facebook where her post garnered 157,000 likes and 46,000 shares.
"I am totally amazed at the response to my photos and story," Meilander told "Good Morning America." "It was such a sweet interaction -- I wanted to acknowledge Dylan for his compassion."
In her post, Meilander shared the story behind the photos, captioning, "The man apologized for not hearing too well. He had forgotten to put in his hearing aids. He talked about how he lost his hearing during his time in the war. He was 91 years old with many stories to tell. Dylan patiently listened giving him his full attention."
She went on, "Eventually the man apologized for talking so much. 'I'm alone now,' he said, 'and I don't often have someone to talk to.' Dylan smiled and said he enjoyed listening."
Meilander wrote how Tetil paid for Frank's meal and the two sat and talked.
Tetil told ABC affiliate WTAE in Pittsburgh, that Frank was "very emotional."
"He was actually crying when he was talking to me, when he was talking about the war," Tetil told the station Sunday. "It just really hit a soft spot in my heart, honestly. I almost cried, and I'm not a crier."
Meilander told "GMA" she has not been in touch with Frank, a WWII veteran and avid bowler, since her post gained viral attention.
