A small gesture can go an extraordinarily long way. In this case a gesture made by an anonymous veteran paying it forward to a serviceman’s girlfriend has warmed the hearts of more than one million fans, after a photo of the act of kindness went viral as reported by NBC.

Samantha Ford came out to her car after a breakfast run on Sunday afternoon only to find a handwritten note tucked beneath her windshield wiper.

Thinking it was a parking ticket she threw it in her pocket, buckled her two kids into their seats, and then sat down at the wheel before she read the note. It was written on the back of a white envelope, inside of which she found two $20 bills.

“I noticed the sticker on the back of your car,” the note began. “Take your hero out to dinner when he comes home. Thank you both for serving. Him deployed and you for waiting. –United States veteran. God bless.”

Ford, whose bumper sticker says, “1/2 of my heart is in Afghanistan,” started to cry.

An amazing story that can put a lot into perspective for many Americans. Read the rest of the story here.