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)
To all: If you call the Hilton to let them know how much these dinners at Fran O'Brien's mean to the wounded troops and their families, remember what our MilBlogger friend Andi says, let's "do it with civility and class."
Local DC Channel 4 (NBC) news just had a rather lengthy story about this, complete with an interview with a wounded serviceman having dinner at Fran's with his family. The story said the lease is up 1 May. Supposedly options are being discussed, and other entities have offered to step in to continue the service, including the Italian Embassy.
I posted a great article by Kathleen Parker recently (link below). I just heard this on the local DC news - they have to close by May 1 - a business decision. had wounded troops on camera speaking about what the place means to them. I emailed her about it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1596975/posts?page=68
? It's all over the local news
"? It's all over the local news"
Is it now? What a difference 24 hours makes.
Here it is - tgs1tacoma just posted it on the other link
http://wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48429
I wonder why the mamanger would have told Dixie Sass in post 136 that the story was false - that was also very different than what he told me.
It's good that there are some people out there who are willing to make waves to see that things are done to help others, isn't it? Kind of reminds me of the definition of grassroots - those on a local level who create awareness of wrong doing and try to make the necessary changes.
Sounds similar. But I was assured they weren't closing.
Who knows? Maybe because they didn't know who they were talking to. In any event, the news is out, and verified. Hopefully the Hilton will continue to feel the heat of their decision as more concerned troop-supporting Americans make (polite) phone calls.
"In any event, the news is out, and verified. Hopefully the Hilton will continue to feel the heat of their decision as more concerned troop-supporting Americans make (polite) phone calls."
Agreed. I sent my letter today.
Ping
Bump
What the....this cannot be true. If that is the case, why the heck do we as a society even allow the challenged to even leave the house? There is a very profitable lawsuit here, I believe, not being a lawyer, if this is true and if you can prove that is the reason the party's lease in not being renewed.
Disgusted bump
Will do! This was a dreadful mistake on Hilton's part. Hopefully they will correct it ASAP.
Thanks for the ping. BTTT!
As a former manager of associations, this is a great idea. There should be many members of national associations at FR. Call your association executive or members of your board of directors and let them know that you will never stay at a Hilton-owned hotel when you attend a convention. Convention money is a hotel chains' foundation.
You're welcome. I just posted an updated article in breaking.
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