ROCKY HILL, CT (WFSB) - A Kosovo native, who is a barber in Rocky Hill, said he was brought to the United States with the help of American soldiers.

On this Veterans Day, Nazim Saliu gave back to them by cutting their hair for free on Tuesday.

Saliu, also known as “Noli,” is a barber who is living a dream in his Rocky Hill salon. It's a dream that didn't seem possible when he was in his native Kosovo in the late 1990s.

"When I was in a refugee camp, how they help me and brought me here,” Saliu said. “It's my favor to do.”

Saliu and his family were chased out of their native Kosovo where war was leaving thousands dead. The United States Military came to the rescue and Saliu got a new chance in this country.

After living in Minnesota for about nine years, Saliu said he knew it was time to make some kind of change and that's what ultimately brought him to Connecticut where he has been living with his family and cutting hair now for almost seven years.

That is why Saliu offered free haircuts to any veteran, police officer or firefighter all day on Tuesday at his salon Noli's.

“I like to help pay back whenever they need me,” Saliu said.

His offer started at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at his salon which is located at 2409 Main St., in Rocky Hill. For more information, call the salon at 860-563-1670.

"That makes me feel good that people appreciate what we do because we get a lot of negative most of the time, you know,” Ronald Tarpey, of Rocky Hill, said. “It's good to get a positive from everybody."

Noli made it clear to Eyewitness News on Tuesday that this offer is not about him, but about the people in the US Military.

“We come here all the time for our haircuts,” said veteran Robert Bright, who served in the US Air Force during Vietnam War. “He's a real nice guy.”

The shop was full all Tuesday with veterans taking advantage of the deal. There was a line earlier in the day. People stopped by to drop off food and donations for those men and women who served in the military.

It's a service that should not be forgotten.

"I have a lot of respect for these men and what they've been through a lot,” Saliu said. “They deserve to be treated well."

Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/27355829/r...#ixzz3IsGLYktP