By performing a simple act of kindness on a spring-like day, a Sailor embodied the Navy's idea of honor and learned an unforgettable life lesson.

The weather was mild, the sun was shining, and there was a cool, gentle breeze in the air. Petty Officer 1st Class Maurice McQueen was enjoying a beautiful day in the Navy. He decided it was a good day to take a walk to his favorite smoothie restaurant for lunch. So McQueen, another Sailor, and Carol Coatney -- a human resources assistant at Navy Recruiting District Raleigh -- went out to enjoy lunch together.

After lunch, the group was on their way back to work when they suddenly saw a young man run across the street toward an elderly man who had fallen to the ground. The man was lying on the sidewalk, unable to lift himself up. Right away, McQueen knew the man needed help.

"I saw a young man run across the street to help an elderly gentleman who was lying on the ground," said McQueen. "The young man was trying to help the guy up off of the ground, but they looked like they were both struggling. I handed Mrs. Coatney my smoothie and I ran across the street."

Carefully avoiding traffic, McQueen raced across the intersection. The elderly man appeared to be hurt and confused, his clothes were disheveled, and for no apparent reason, he was wearing three 20 gallon hats. His appearance was reminiscent of a person who suffers from dementia. With tears in his eyes, the man looked up and reached his arm out toward McQueen. "Help. Please help," he said.

"He was just lying there crying," said McQueen. "All of the change had fallen out of his pocket and was scattered all over the sidewalk. His cane was out of his reach."

McQueen quickly reached for the elderly man's arm to help lift him up from the ground.

"I helped the young man pick the guy up off of the ground," McQueen said. "Once we got him off of the ground, I asked him (the elderly man) where he was headed. He said he was trying to go to the restaurant across the street, so I helped him walk to the restaurant."

In the Navy, to have honor is to hold oneself accountable for professional and personal behavior while keeping in mind it is a privilege to serve Americans. To have honor, Sailors must abide by an uncompromising code of integrity and conduct themselves in the highest ethical manner. Some pedestrians just stood by and stared at the elderly man as he lay on the ground, begging for help. McQueen ran to the man's aid. Coatney, who retired from the Navy as a chief petty officer in 2011, looked on with pride as she witnessed McQueen's perfect display of honor.

"Petty Officer McQueen is a very compassionate person; he would help anyone," said Coatney. "I hope that if my son saw someone on the ground who needed help, he would do what McQueen did. He is a role model. There are good young men out here and Maurice McQueen is one of them."

McQueen helped the man walk up the stairs and into the restaurant. Now, with dry eyes and a smile on his face, the man looked up at McQueen and spoke.

"Once we got inside the restaurant, he seemed to be doing better and he asked me what my rank was," said McQueen. "I told him I am an E-6. Then, he told me that he retired from the Army. He shook my hand and thanked me for my service."

McQueen said he will always be able to proudly look back on the day he fulfilled one of his duties as a service member by stopping to help a person in need.

"I see it as service members helping service members," said McQueen. "No matter who you are or where you've been in life, you have to remember that, in the future, you may need help. That elderly man could be me one day."

It was a beautiful day in the Navy McQueen will never forget.

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