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Anonymous veteran shares sign of support for soldier, girlfriend

ARLINGTON, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- The girlfriend of a soldier deployed overseas received an unexpected gift from an appreciative veteran on Sunday.

Samantha Ford tells FOX 25 she was only inside a Dunkin' Donuts in Arlington for about 10 minutes and when she came out she received the surprise of her life. A veteran left a kind note and $40 on her car.

Ford drives a candy apple red car that is hard to miss and it also features a sticker in the window that one thoughtful veteran didn't miss either. The sticker reads, "Half my heart is in Afghanistan."

Ford's boyfriend, Army Specialist Albert Disimone, has been stationed in Afghanistan since September. The two have known each other since the fifth grade. Disimone just celebrated his 25th birthday overseas on Tuesday.

"Loving someone so much and not being able to see them and just relying on when you're going to hear from them next and not knowing, it's hard," Ford explains.

A veteran made Ford's day a lot brighter on Sunday with a handwritten note.

"I noticed the sticker on your car," reads the note. "Take your hero out to dinner when he comes home. Thank you both for serving. Him deployed and you for waiting."

Ford says she was deeply touched by the gesture.

"My eyes just started tearing up it was overwhelming," Ford recalls.

The note was signed, "United States veteran."

Ford says when she told Disimone what a complete stranger had done, he was equally as choked up.

"These are the things that make him proud to be a soldier, it makes him feel like he's not over there for nothing," says Ford of her boyfriend.

Ford still has no idea who left the note. She posted what happened on Facebook in hopes of finding the vet. At last check, she's received 1,696,000 likes and 55,000 comments. Ford says she just wants the chance to say thank you.

"I don't think there are the right words to say how much we appreciate it and how thankful we are and how blessed we are to have received something like this," says Ford.

Ford says she plans to continue the veteran's chain of generosity. She's still trying to decide how she plans to give back, but she thinks she might do something to help other veterans or military families.