Eight-year-old son of dead Iraq veteran hands tear-jerking note of thanks to soldier with $20

An eight-year-old boy whose dad was killed in Iraq handed an emotional note of thanks to a soldier with a $20 bill.

Myles Eckert was at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Ohio when he found the money in the parking lot.

Instead of spending the cash on himself, Myles handed it to Lt Col Frank Dailey, who was also dining in the restaurant, when he saw his uniform.

The cute kid told the soldier he reminded him of his dad - Army Sgt Andy Eckert - who was killed in Iraq just five weeks after Myles was born.

The soldier, who was stationed at the Ohio Air National Guard base near Toledo, told CBS News: "It's incredible being recognised in such a manner. I look at it (the note) every day."

The green sticky note accompanying the money read: "Dear soldier - my dad was a soldier. He's in heaven now. I found this 20 dollars in the parking lot when we got here. We like to pay it forward in my family.            

"It's your lucky day! Thank you for your service. Myles Eckert, a gold star kid."

Myles said: "I kind of wanted to get a video game, but then I decided not to."

After the encounter Myles asked his mum Tiffany to take him to his father's grave.

Tiffany said: "He wanted to go see his dad. And he wanted to go by himself that day."