GET THE WORD OUT

Posted on April 14, 2006 by Gaius

I have locked this post at the top, so it should stay up there all day. If you blog, know someone who does, or even just comment on some and you support our troops, help get the word out on this. The Capitol Hilton in Washington, DC is evicting the Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse. The folks at the restaurant have been hosting free steak dinners for recovering wounded soldiers from Walter Reed medical Center. Every Friday for more than three years now, with no fanfare, publicity or hype, they have opened their doors to these wounded troops. But the Hilton wants them out.

Via Mudville Gazette:

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)

Please join in letting the Hilton know how unhappy this makes you.

Here are the people to call:

*Dan Boyle (212) 838-1558

daniel_a_boyle@hilton.com

Brian Kellaher (202) 393-1000*

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5 Responses to GET THE WORD OUT

  1. Black Jack says:
    April 13, 2006 at 10:45 am

    I’m ready to raise hell with the Capitol Hilton, but first I’d like to confirm that the reason the lease is not going to be renewed is because of the free Friday night dinners. If that’s the case, it’s going to get ugly rather quickly. If there’s more to it, we need to know it now.

    I just don’t want to go off halfcocked.

  2. Gauis Arbo says:
    April 13, 2006 at 10:46 am

    See the Mudville Gazette – they have a very large amount of documentation.

  3. Tom says:
    April 14, 2006 at 8:06 am

    I wonder if the Americans With Disabilities act could be used to block this move if that is the primary reason for the non-renewal of the lease.

    I also wonder if the ACLU should look at this (since they get into everything else) on the part of the disabled, specifically, the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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