Posted on 04/12/2006 5:41:50 PM PDT by radar101
Hello all,
This past Friday night I was privileged to visit Fran O'Brien's steakhouse in the Capitol Hilton, Washington, DC. Every Friday night, Hal Koster, the restaurant manager and Vietnam Vet, invites our wounded soldiers convalescing at nearby Walter Reed Army Center to a free steak dinner and drinks. It was supposedly a "slow" night for our heroes as many were on a ski trip in Colorado. But I walked into an absolutely packed room of wounded soldiers and their families enjoying a minor but well-deserved recognition for their service to our country.
I've also discovered since then that the Hilton Corporation will not be renewing the lease. Apparently, there are too many "liability issues" in accommodating American heroes in wheelchairs. In fact , the lease (and therefore the dinners) will expire in a few short weeks. If America had responded as we would in the past, this would be inconsequential really. Obviously we have not and it is a tragic commentary on today's PC-ness.
Please read the attached e-mail with more of the details.
Best, Buzz
Buzz Patterson Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Retired)
I'm starting to really despise the bean counters who make decisions in corporate America.
Canteen ping!
I need to get this to my Vets. This could be a PR disaster for Hilton.
Please feel free to contact the following individuals:
Corporate Media Inquiries/Community Affairs
Hilton Hotels Corporation - Beverly Hills, California
Kathy Shepard - Vice President - Corporate Communications
Candace Hollis - Senior Manager - Corporate Communications
Phone: +1 310 205-4656
Fax: +1 310 205-7678
Hilton International
Linda Bain - Vice President of Group Communications
Phone: +44 20 7856 8293
Fax: +44 20 7856 8463
Investor Relations
Hilton Hotels Corporation - Beverly Hills, California
Atish Shah - Vice President - Investor Relations
Phone: +1 310-205-8664
Fax: +1 310 205-7686
Hilton International
Julian Arlett - Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +44 20 7856 8449
Fax: +44 20 7856 8463
North American Media Inquiries (U.S., Canada and Mexico Hotels, Developments, Programs and Services)
Hilton, Conrad
Jeanne Datz Rice - Director of Communications
Phone: +1 310 205-4545
Fax: +1 310 205-7880
Hilton Garden Inn
Agnes Sibal - Manager - Brand Communications
Phone: +1 310 205-4545
Fax: +1 310 205-7880
Doubletree Hotels
Thomas Wingham - Director - Brand Communications
Phone: +1 310 205-4545
Fax: +1 310 205-7880
Embassy Suites Hotels
Dawn Ray - Senior Manager - Brand Communications
Phone: +1 310 205-4545
Fax: +1 310 205-7880
Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites
Bonnie Cameron - Director - Brand Communications
Tori Walsh - Assistant Manager - Brand Communications
Phone: +1 901 374-6462
Fax: +1 901 374-5543
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Michael Bielskis - Manager - Brand Communications
Phone: +1 901 374-5954
Fax: +1 901 374-5543
Hilton Grand Vacations Company
Elena Norman - Senior Director - Communications
Phone: +1 407 521-3100
Fax: +1 407 521-3112
Europe, Australasia, Africa, South America Media Inquiries Hotels, Developments, Programs and Services
Hilton, Scandic
Elaine Hayes - Head of Public Relations
Phone: +44 20 7856 8293
Fax: +44 20 7856 8463
Conrad
Catherine Couplan - Public Relations Director
Phone: +32 2 542 4790
Fax: +32 2 542 4300
Remember when bars and restaurants went out of their way to cater to men and women in uniform? Is that age now part of the distant past?
MAYDAY! MAYDAY!! MAYDAY!!!
Flight, we need your help!
This is long but you need to read it all.
I'm Jim McDaniel, webmaster for the 174th Assault Helicopter Company's web site. I refer you to one of our web pages that I put together back in 2004. It is about Hal Koster, one of our 174th crew chiefs from Vietnam. Hal crewed the UH-1C SHARK gunships that I flew 1967-68. Hal and I flew together. Please see the page about his restaurant and his support of our veterans at http://www.174ahc.org/koster-iraq.htm.
Now, having read the page, Hal has continued to host our veteran amputees every Friday night. I have been to several of the dinners, and it is absolutely WONDERFUL what Hal has been doing at significant effort and personal expense (every dollar he spends on our veterans could be money he puts in his pocket). You really have to be one of these dinners to fully appreciate what this means to these soldiers.
Well I received this message (below) from Jack Cunningham, and I couldn't believe it. I was last in Hal's on St. Patrick's Day, and Hal didn't mention his difficulties to me then. I just called Hal and he confirmed for me this report is TRUE. Hilton has terminated his lease and the restaurant has been ordered closed on April 31 (just over TWO WEEKS from now). Apparently Hal's support of our wounded veterans is playing a MAJOR part in Hilton's decision to shut him down. Part of it is that Hilton has refused to put in wheelchair access to the restaurant and their concern over liability if one of the amputees should be injured in the restaurant.
I can't believe it! Just how callous can this company be?
It Hilton does this, I will NEVER set foot in a Hilton Hotel again. And I am going to tell them that. If you agree, it is IMPERATIVE you let Hilton know immediately of your feelings. In two weeks (April 31, 2006) it'll be too late. Below are names, e-mail addresses, and website addresses for Hilton.
Hal has NOT asked for any support on this from me or any of us, but he absolutely needs our support.
Call or write to Hilton NOW. Let them know how you feel.
Thank you, and please feel free to forward this to any people or organizations you believe could help.
Jim McDaniel
174th AHC Webmaster
http://www.174ahc.org
jim.mcd@cox.net
174th AHC Dolphin pilot 1967
174th AHC Shark pilot 1968
116th AHC Hornet pilot 1971 "Nothing Impossible"
============ Jack Cunningham's note ===============
Fran O'Brien's Restaurant in Washington, DC should be given a special award for true American Patriotism, instead the restaurant is being closed by the Hilton Hotels. Please read the email and send the Hilton Family your comments...
Thanks
Jack Cunningham
Am also waiting for more info from a local contact, and will post as received...
Ping.
You have got to be kidding me.
This ain't right.
More Hilton contacts from Proud Army Mom at http://youbetchaimapam.blogspot.com/2006/04/ok-youre-making-mom-real-mad-now.html
Dan Boyle (212) 838-1558
daniel_a_boyle@hilton.com
Brian Kellaher (202) 393-1000
Ok - so - time to get busy here.
Canteen Ping
Can you all send some emails on this??
is this in violation of ADA laws/regs? I'm familiar with ADA as it relates to transit, not with hotels/restaurants and the like.
The bean counters...and the trial lawyers who would otherwise take advantage.
check this
Yeah capitalism sucks. We need a committee to decide how capital is allocated. Power to the people!
April 31st will never come.
Let's hope their oversight can be used legally against Hilton.
bump
What we need are fewer gutless, stupid people in corporate America.
And you do recognize that it part of our capitalist system to withold patronage from Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites etc. and recommend to our friends that they should too, right?
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