Walmart customer's kind gesture for veteran goes viral: 'I'm grateful for you'

(FOX News) -- A woman in Iowa says her heart welled up with emotion after witnessing a young man's act of kindness toward an older veteran.

Alana Ruthann took to Facebook on Sunday to share the heartwarming story, which took place the day before at her local Walmart in Ankeny. According to Ruthann, she was standing in line, waiting to pay for her purchases, when she heard a commotion between the two men standing near the checkout counter.

"I didn't even notice the two gentlemen standing in front of me until I heard an older man's voice in confusion declare, "Wait, what is happening? What are you doing?!" wrote Ruthmann, who noted that the older man was wearing a hat that indicated he had served in the military.

"I looked up from my phone to see a younger man in front of the older gentleman respond, "Sir, I'm paying for your items because you paid by serving my country and I'm grateful for you."

Read more about this story on FOXNews.com.