While working at a Jack in the Box restaurant in Bakersfield, California, Alex Mesta, 19, befriended a customer.
Mesta would often thank the customer, who he learned was a veteran, for his service and give him free coffee.
![employee and veteran](http://www.relayhero.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1-147.jpg.webp)
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One evening, right before closing, Mesta gave the veteran two tacos at no cost.
The tacos were going to be thrown out soon, and Mesta didn’t see a need to waste the food.
![employee and veteran](https://www.relayhero.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/3-131.jpg.webp)
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If Mesta had charged the man, the bill would have been just under $4.00.
The following Monday, Mesta was fired.
![employee and veteran](https://www.relayhero.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/4-117.jpg.webp)
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Daniel Ortiz posted this story on Facebook with more detail.
![employee and veteran](https://www.relayhero.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2-137.jpg.webp)
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