CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV) – A veteran from Concord who received a note accusing of her of abusing a veteran parking spot has received an apology letter.

“I wanted to let everyone know I received a much appreciated, sincere apology,” Rebecca Hayes posted on Facebook Monday night, a week after receiving a not-so-kind letter.

Hayes, who served in the U.S. Navy for eight years, parked in a reserved veteran spot at the Harris Teeter in the Coddle Creek Shopping Center last Monday. She found a note on her car that read, “This parking is for Veterans, lady. Learn to read [and] have some respect.”

The post went viral, eventually finding the person who left the note.

“To the lady whose car I left a note on – I happened to come across your post on Facebook through a friend who shared your photo and status. I would like to apologize to you,” the apology note started.

The person, who didn’t leave a name, said they “felt horrible” about the situation, where they assumed they were standing up for someone. “You didn’t deserve that, and I hope you can accept this apology,” the note said.

“At first, I thought someone had left a note because they hit my car or something like that,” Hayes said about the initial note. She pulled over, expecting to call someone and swap insurance info. Instead, she cried while reading a note that accused her of abusing the veteran parking.

“I know I parked in one of the Veteran Parking spaces today, it was hot. I had been in and out of my car several times already this afternoon, and I was only going to be a minute. Besides, the parking lot was full, so I just did it,” Rebecca Hayes wrote on Facebook.

Hayes said she normally doesn’t use the two parking places reserved for veterans at the store. But that day, both were empty.

Hayes believes the note was left because she is a woman and didn’t fit the “stereotype” of a veteran in her business-casual attire.

That’s a stereotype she hopes to change.

“Veterans come in all shapes, sizes, genders and colors,” Hayes told WBTV in a phone interview. “More veterans don’t fit that stereotype than do.”

Hayes said her husband, a veteran of the U.S. Army, has parked in the spot before. Unlike her, she said, he’s never gotten more than a “Thank you for your service” when getting out of his vehicle.

Even if it came in a delayed form, Hayes received her “thank you.”

“I appreciate your service to this country and I highly respect military men and women. It was an error in judgement, and again, I’m sorry for that. Thank you for all that you’ve done. God Bless,” the note ended.RELATED: NC female veteran parks in veteran parking spot, gets nasty note