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)
The Battle for Fran O'Brian's? Hardly descriptive and doesn't ask for freeper activism in the title. But no matter; freepers would rather argue among themselves these days anyway.
Now how about putting your energy toward helping us find out if this outrageous story is true?
Hello?
#1. You have obviously missed my comment on this very thread; that I'll make phone calls after 9:00.
#2. Whatever makes you think you've hurt my feelings? When I asked for a more high profile effort on this matter, I wasn't talking about some obscure title under breaking news. I think it would be more interesting to have a thread that asks for freeper help for the military.
#3. Now go have another cup of coffee.
Bump for the morning. Has anybody heard anything?
Comrade? What an idiot. Free enterprise includes spending our money where we want. If the corporate beancounters (I wonder if it's beans or politics they're counting, personally) want to do something I don't like, I don't have to ever spend my money at their businesses again. I also have the right to write or call these people to let them know why I won't be spending my money there.
Only a dyed-in-the-wool COMMUNIST would say otherwise. In cold war Russia, people could only shop where they were told to shop, and dissent was not tolerated. (Modern day Russia might be revisiting this policy, the way things are looking.)
WTF!!!
ping for your attention!!!!!
MARINE BUMP!
Thanks for the ping. I was unaware of any of this. Guess I don't get out enough these days. :-)
Hard to say. For one thing, it isn't really clear what's going on, or if it has anything at all to do with the dinners.
It doesn't say anything about a new lease anywhere else. Closing would have a good deal to do with the dinners.
I'm starting to really despise the bean counters who make decisions in corporate America.
The American Disability Act will be used by the restaurant lawyers and Hilton will pay out big, along with a PR disaster.
Until this is properly resolved- I will NOT be staying in any Hilton location on vacation this summer. Have 2 trips olanned. They just lost my $$$$$.
Love the tag : )
If Hilton has terminated his lease as of Aril 31, it just goes to show how stupid Hilton and it's managers are:
There is NOT an April 31 in this year, nor in any of the other 66 I have lived in........
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.""'
My understanding: IF you are OPEN to the PUBLIC, you must have the ADA accomodations.
Hilton is headed for a big problem if they are going down this path.
Capitalism without patriotism sucks. If your only allegiance is to money then I don't want you in my country. Go hop into bed with the Saudis and the Chinese and be satisfied.
Decent people, and corporations for that matter, have a moral responsibility to support those who put their lives on the line to protect them.
This is an insult to wounded combat veterans, money be damned.
Yeah. I gotta get rid of that red star on my hat. LOL.
OK, I just got off the phone with the manager at O'Briens
Me: Is it true that O'Brien's is closing in two weeks?
Him: We don't know yet. We're in negotiations.
Me: A web site I'm a member of is concerned and discussing how to put pressure on Hilton.
Him: We're in negotiations right now.
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