When we go to a restaurant, we often have a preference as to whether we want to sit at a booth or a table. The booth tends to be a more comfortable option, with padded seating and a little more elbow room while a table may have limited space available along with a hard seat. The hostess will often make the choice as to which you are given but some people request a booth and are denied when there are other seats available.
In Dallas Texas, a family was visiting a Texas Roadhouse restaurant and they were told that they could not have a booth that appeared to be empty. When they took a closer look at the sign on the edge of the table, however, they realized that it was being reserved for some VIPs that had not yet come. Not only were they happy not to take the booth, they considered themselves to be fortunate to share a meal at the same restaurant.
The booth was set up in such a way that it was ready for the important people that were not going to be arriving. It included a Texas state flag and an American flag on the wall behind it and there was a white tablecloth that was covering the table, which would otherwise be bare. Five places were already set and there was a sign at the front of the table to welcome them.
When they took a closer look at the sign, they realized that the people were about to arrive. It was a group of special individuals because the booth was marking the loss of those that would never be able to share such a meal again.
Five police officers had lost her life in the line of duty when they were ambushed by snipers in Dallas. The table was reserved for those individuals, and the restaurant had it set up as a memorial to mark the brave men who gave their lives for everyone present. The customers were taking pictures of the booth and it wasn’t long before they went viral.
Restaurants make money when their seats are filled and they make the most when they are filled to capacity. This was a way for them to honor those fallen officers by setting aside a place where they could acknowledge the brave actions of those individuals.
When customers realized who the VIPs were, there was not a dry eye in the house. The sign on the table read:
“We remember and honor the five slain police officers, Sergeant Michael J. Smith, Officer Michael Krol, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, and Mr. Brent Thompson, who worked for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department, that the Texas Roadhouse restaurant reserved a table for. We thank you for your service. May you rest in peace.”
Texas Roadhouse really did a nice thing and it didn’t escape notice. What is even more amazing is what those officers did on that day. Taking a moment to thank somebody for their sacrifice by giving them a silent ‘thank you’ is one way we can show our appreciation for what those individuals are doing every day.
