Tampa Dad’s Sacrifice Honored by Mac Dill Air Force Customers

The day after Veterans Day a beautiful, heart warming story appeared in the St. Pete Times newspaper about a local dad's unselfish love for his handicapped son, and the Air Force neighbors who honored him.

The story was written by Times staff reporter Justin George and titled "A Son's Life, a Father's Sacrifice". It tells the story of a father who gave up his career to make a special place in the world for his handicapped son. It also tells about the inherent good and compassion of his military customers.

Justin George's story continues to remind us again why we are so proud of our military, and how we must always honor their sacrifice.

It also points out that all of us have a story to tell, even the workers in our local chicken wing franchise store. Most of us are just ordinary people. We live our days quietly under the radar.

Rarely are we noticed or appreciated for our day-to-efforts and sacrifices. We do not expect or even ask for any recognition. In fact bragging about our good deeds is frowned upon by many.

We go about our daily business, trying to do the best we can for those we care about. When someone does give us a kind word or happens to notice our good work, our heart sings.

Rarely does a newspaper story leave me in tears, but this one about Randy Prince, his son Will, and what happened that day at the "Wing Stop" chicken restaurant, did.

Will Prince, the oldest son of Randy Prince was born with a heart defect that blocked the flow of blood to some parts of his body. He endured several hospitalizations and surgeries, but the rare defect left Will both physically and mentally challenged. His parents now divorced, worked heart to give him a normal life.

Will had a good memory and enjoyed video games and the band Korn. He loved teasing his dad, but was easily stressed. He was also childlike and friendly which left him vulnerable and annoying to some people.

As Will grew older, his dad Randy worried about his future. When Will was in high school Randy knew his son would need a job soon.

Randy had a good job. He worked as a manager for a financial company that partnered with owners of franchised restaurants. He knew Will loved to cook and thought he could probably manage a cash register.

In 2005, Randy Prince traded in his white collar job for an apron and chicken fryer. He opened a Wing Stop franchise in a South Tampa strip mall, north of Mac Dill Air Force Base.

For six years father and son worked side by side serving chicken wing platters to the locals. Will was happy making salads and talking to the customers. Few customers were aware of Randy's sacrifice. They just noticed a man in a stained apron and his mentally challenged son behind the counter cooking chicken.

But a small group of customers from Mac Dill AFB who understood sacrifices saw more. What they did still makes Randy Prince cry.

Over the last few years, Will's heart started to give out. He began retaining fluid and weighed 300 pounds. He got a pacemaker, but it did not help. Hospice was recommended, but Randy thought differently.

He brought Will to the restaurant each day where he could sit and talk to customers, especially his friends from Mac Dill AFB. Best of all Will was with his dad.

That lasted a month. Will died at home on August 27^th, with his dad by his side.

After Will died, Randy took a week off. But without Will, Wing Stop became a chore. Customers kept asking,"Where's Will ?" Randy had opened the restaurant for Will and now Will was gone.

A few weeks after Will,s death, eight customers in military uniforms came into the store and asked Randy to come upfront.They handed him a framed American Flag and a certificate. The flag had flown over Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan.

The certificate read, "In honor and Memory of Will Prince." The eight had signed their names. Staff Sgt. Joshua L. Smith wrote, "Your son was always good to us and fun to talk to."

Randy began sobbing. "I can't believe that these guys and girls fighting for our freedom, had the compassion to honor my son in such a loving way," he said.

They better than most, had noticed Randy's sacrifice…..To read the complete story by Justin George, click here

The Wing Stop recently closed due to the poor economy.

Sources:

St. Pete Times…Justin George