DC residents jumped at opportunity to pay for meals for National Guardsmen

Washington, D.C., residents covered the meals of six National Guardsmen who were eating at St. Anselm restaurant on Friday. 

“There were multiple people who paid as well as offered to pay,” a server who identified herself as Bella who was taking care of the guardsmen, told The Hill. There were three separate instances where people wanted to pay for their meals. 

The first group was a family who told their server they would pay for the guardsmen’s first round of drinks. “The server let the guardsmen know that that happened and they were very thankful for that,” Bella said.  

In another instance, a man who wasn’t eating at the restaurant offered to pay for the full meal. “I believe he had come from the gym across the street from us. He approached me and he said he wanted to pay for their entire meal,” Bella said. 

The man handed Bella the credit card for her to run and then he left without speaking to the guardsmen. The guardsmen were sitting outside in the restaurant’s heated pods they used for outdoor dining, as indoor dining is prohibited in D.C. due to the pandemic. 

Another guest offered to pay for the full meal at the end, but it was already covered. A Twitter user posted about trying to pay for the group’s meal, however it is unclear if this user is the same guest the server referred to. 

Six National Guardsmen sat in two shacks at #StAnselm tonight. I tried to pay their check, but our server told me I was too slow, someone already had. Good people live in DC! We appreciate the men and women who came to our town kept us safe and defended Democracy pic.twitter.com/L97FFoUNYH

— Tommy McFLY (@TommyMcFLY) January 23, 2021

“People are just wanting to be as generous as they can be within their power,” Bella said. “It was a real feel-good thing to see.”

Many have reached out with kind gestures towards the National Guard during their deployment to D.C. to protect the nation’s capital around President Joe Biden’s inauguration. 

On other occasions, lawmakers also extended a helping hand to the National Guard. 

Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) offered guardsmen free pizza and to stay in his office after some guardsmen were forced to sleep in a parking garage overnight.

I just visited the solders who have been abandoned & insulted by our leaders. I brought them pizza and told them that they can sleep in my office.

No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress

Our Troops deserve better. pic.twitter.com/4attFqhRRJ

— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) January 22, 2021

The National Guard were moved to a nearby parking garage outside the Capitol building after they were ordered to vacate the premises. However, images emerged of officers sleeping in the garage, prompting outrage from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also offered for the guardsmen to stay in her office and provide snacks for them.

Yeah this is not okay.

My office is free this week to any service members who’d like to use it for a break or take nap on the couch. We’ll stock up on snacks for you all too.

(We’re in the middle of moving offices and it’s a bit messy so don’t judge, but make yourself at home!) https://t.co/JyEvC4kg6o

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 22, 2021

First Lady Jill Biden passed out cookies as a thank you for the job the National Guard did protecting the inauguration.

First lady Jill Biden thanked the National Guard troops, bringing them cookies for helping secure the Capitol during the inauguration of President Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/ffWxqffUyk

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 23, 2021

The National Guard is beginning to leave D.C. after a week-long stay during inauguration week.

The National Guard was deployed after the Capitol riots that occurred on Jan. 6, when a mob of former President Trump’s supporters breached the Capitol building’s security, broke windows, vandalized offices and forced Congress to evacuate to undisclosed locations. 

Following the incident, Washington was on high alert with Biden slated to be publicly sworn in on Jan. 20.