Natalie's Everyday Heroes: A smile and a wave change everything for a Grafton veteran

GRAFTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- This week's everyday hero is showing that a small act of kindness can have a big ripple effect.

Roger Menzia is known all over Grafton for waving at drivers as they pass his senior living community.

His friendly face has spread a lot of joy, and now it's coming back to him, too.

Traffic is light on First Avenue in Grafton, until you get to the corner of Oak Street.

That's when you start to hear the honking. And see the waving.

"I go out every day," Menzia said.

Menzia sits out in front of Village Point Commons at all hours.

"I'll maybe go out there for half hour or so in the morning," he said. "Then maybe after lunch I'll go out for about a half hour."

He waves at drivers as they pass by.

"Merry Christmas!" he called out.

And they wave back.

"It just makes me feel good and I make them feel good," he said.

Oh, and dogs love him, too.

"There you go, kid," he said, reaching down to feed a furry friend a treat, which he always keeps handy.

He's been greeting his neighbors for months. And it's getting him some notoriety.

"Quite a bit, quite a bit," Menzia admitted.

This small gesture is having a big impact.

Menzia, an Army veteran, inspired a 14-year-old to write him a letter and draw his portrait.

"I think it's amazing," said his son, Tom Menzia.

Tom Menzia has watched his dad make friends all over town, at a time when he needed some friends.

"The last five years have been pretty rough. We lost my brother, we lost my mom," Tom Menzia explained.

The waving has given him purpose.

"If you'd have seen the state he was in six months ago, it's night and day," Tom said of his dad's happiness.

And it has created community.

Menzia got a big surprise on Veterans Day.

"There was one parent with kids, then there was more, then there was more. There was like 52 of them," he said of a large crowd that stopped by to say hi.

All coming to visit and hear his story.

There are smaller moments, too.

"Oh, thank you. These are really good," Menzia thanked a man who pulled over to drop off some cookies.

And that's what matters.

"You know, like Mr. Rogers says, it's a wonderful day in the neighborhood," he said.

Making Grafton a friendlier place with just a smile and a wave.

"Have a good day, take care," he said.

So, if you're driving around Grafton, make sure to go down First Avenue. You're more than likely to see Menzia out there waving.

At Christmas time, he did it in a Santa suit.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].