Veteran only expected a quiet 'thank you' — but when a young man handed him flowers, he was speechless

Most men live their entire lives without receiving gentleness and affection the way they deserve. From being touch-starved, especially by their fathers, to not being encouraged to communicate their feelings loudly and more openly, men’s share of emotional struggles often goes unheard. However, a social media personality named Jack Jones — who goes by the username @jackjonestv on Instagram — shared a video of one such man and how he tried to change the narrative by offering him what he probably received for the first time — a bouquet of flowers.

The video posted on April 17, 2025, begins when Jack walks up to an old man in a red uniform and black hat, radiating pride and patriotism through his eyes. He asks the man if he was in the Army, and he says yes, adding that he also served in the Navy and the Air Force. Jack moves in for a handshake, saying, “I just want to say a big thank you for your service.” The old man thanks him back and continues telling him about his experiences, saying, “I loved it.”

Here’s where the video gets more interesting and wholesome — Jack hands out a yellow bouquet of flowers and gives it to him, adding, “These are for you.” The man pauses with his eyes widened, looking at the bouquet, wondering if he heard correctly. He looks at Jack, and shock transforms into a smile as he receives the bouquet, thanking him. He asks, “Did you serve too?” Jack replies, “No, but I always respect a man who did.” When asked about his hobbies, Jack says, “Making people smile… most men only receive their first flower on their funeral. So, I just want to try and change that perspective.”

The kind gesture made the man tear up and label it as an “unexpected” gift. He could not utter much verbally, but his eyes spoke a thousand words about how grateful and overwhelmed he was. An article by Toni Reale talks about a poll from the Society of American Florists, which states: “More than 60 percent of men polled would ‘love' to receive the gift of flowers.” It adds how men have always been labelled as the providers in society; hence, giving them flowers can make them feel special, seen, and acknowledged.

An article on the website of My Blooming Business shares, “Men are human beings just like women, so they can benefit from these effects just as much as women can. Whether it's a celebration or a difficult time, flowers can bring joy to anyone’s life. Men like flowers because they not only beautify a space but also have symbolic significance. A bouquet of flowers can be used to express emotion, congratulate someone, or appreciate a special someone.” Therefore, do not shy away from gifting a man flowers by believing by perceiving it as a gender-based gift.

After watching the video, many viewers commented. @daniellejoycee wrote, “Aww, my goodness, his face. I bet he has never received flowers in his life,” and @just_jackie_and_monty expressed, “His face when you gave him the flowers was priceless. Made me cry. What a wonderful man.” @02taylorr shared, “Makes me so sad that most men don’t get flowers until their funeral — thank you for doing this,” while @scooby_scoble praised Jack, “Total respect mate. Wish there were more like you.”

You can follow Jack Jones (@jackjonestv) on Instagram for more wholesome content.