[tgslTakoma]

Here's more, from The Mudville Gazette:

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

[feefee]

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.

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.

[George from New England]

April 31st will never come.

Let's hope their oversight can be used legally against Hilton.

[nutmeg]

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.

I agree! This is outrageous. I'll ping my lists, tgslTakoma... wish I could do more.

[Smokin' Joe]

Part of it is that Hilton has refused to put in wheelchair access to the restaurant

Whoa! What about the ADA? Doesn't that apply here somewhere?

[SuziQ]

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.

How can they possibly refuse to put in wheelchair access? Isn't that part of the ADA for all restaurants above a certain size? I'd think that a restaurant in a major hotel would have already installed it. Is access to the restaurant obtained by going through the hotel, or directly from 'the street'?

[ridesthemiles]

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........

[CDHart]

"Part of it is that Hilton has refused to put in wheelchair access to the restaurant "

I thought that all businesses had to provide disabled access regardless of the kind of business they had. Even restaurants in our small rural town have had to do it. This sounds peculiar.

Carolyn