Female veteran shamed for parking in veterans-only spot

WNCN ^ | 1/19/15

[Libloather]

WILMINGTON, N.C. - An Air Force veteran who served in Kuwait found a note on her car Friday criticizing her for parking in a veterans-only parking spot in Wilmington.

Mary Claire Caine told WECT-TV that she returned to her car from shopping at Harris Teeter to find a note plastered to her front window from a person identifying themselves as a "Wounded Vet."

It read, "Maybe [you] can't read the sign you parked in front of ... This space is reserved for those who fought for America ... not you. Thanks, Wounded Vet."

Caine, who served in Kuwait and on the flight line of the F-117 Nighthawk, said her heart sank.

[SkyDancer]

Hi, I don't know about other states but here in Washington state there are actual veteran's license plates with the service emblem on them.

more here: http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/specialdesign.html

[SZonian]

CA has them as well...

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=california+veterans+plates&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=california+veterans+plate&sc=8-11&sp=-1&sk=

I’ve also seen a few from other states in my travels...

[SkyDancer]

Thanks ... I’m sure lots of states do. I feel in the case of that woman she should have had something on her vehicle to indicate she was a veteran, preferably a state badge or something of that sort. I don’t know if people would buy decals to put on their car so they could park in veteran slots stores put up but that’s tantamount to parking in disabled slots with a borrowed tag.

[SZonian]

Well, I think we’ve almost come full circle...

I don’t prefer to put identifiers on my vehicles indicating my prior service, nor do I partake of said priviledges when offered...

It’s just personal preference...

IMO, the person who wrote the note is a cad...the vet, a bit thin skinned for making hay out of it.

We had a saying when I was in; “Never show weakness, it only brings the sharks in closer once they get a whiff that you’ve been nicked.”

If a business wants to offer a parking spot, go for it...but also be ready to offer up some sort of identifier for the person who’s qualified to use it.

Like you alluded to, anyone can go and order decals, flags, hats, etc. that indicate veteran status. Doesn’t mean they are one though and opens up the parking thing to abuse by those who weren’t the intended beneficiaries.

[SkyDancer]

Okay. Thanks. Have a Good Day .... R/Janey

[SZonian]

Thanks and you as well.

[AFreeBird]

My paternal grandmother was an army nurse in WWI. Got her dog tags. She was basically in front line field hospitals. The forerunners of MASH duty. Her daughter, my aunt, was an army nurse in WWII.

[SkyDancer]

Cool - I’ve seen pictures of them ....thanks.