Andi’s World Fran O’Brien Update

Andi over at Andi's World has a very interesting update on the Fran O'Brien Stadium Steakhouse. The American Legion hand carried the following letter to the Capitol Hilton:

Dear Mr.Kelleher:

The leasing dispute between The Captial Hilton Hotel and Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse has been brought to our attention. We understand the owner's generously cater to the most severely wounded troops injured in the war on terror by providing them with free weekly steak dinners. We would like to see this tradition continue at Fran O'Brien's.

While we aren't privy to all the details, The American Legion would like to make The Hilton Corporation an offer in the best interest of these wounded heroes and their families who frequent the dinners at your hotel.

For two and a half years now, the owners of Fran O'Brien's have offered up much more than free steak. This venue has become an important element to their long recovery from wounds  most will have for the rest of their lives. This environment has provided mental and emotional healing we can't see or put a price tag on.

We understand that the dispute between the Capital Hilton and Fran O'Brien's is a monetary one. We will meet you halfway in ending this dispute for one reason: Our wounded warriors and those who care for them deserve better. All parties involved are in a position to make this happen.

We will match 50  percent of the cost of an elevator to help bring Fran O'Brien's and the Capital Hilton into ADA Compliance (American Disabilities Act).

In the spirit of your founder and namesake Conrad Hilton, we would very much like to end this dispute and work together in a common cause also dear to Mr. Hilton's heart as you can read from his 1968 statement below when he agreed to be a member of The American Legion's 50th Anniversary National Prestige Advisory and Entertainment Advisory Committees.

Conrad was a charter member of Post 58 in El Paso, Texas, and held continuous membership until his death in 1979.

"I am a charter member of post 58 at El Paso, Texas, and have always considered it a privilege to belong to an organization which has made so many contributions to the Nation and to the welfare of my fellow veterans. I am proud of the fact that shortly after World War I, I helped organize Post 58 at El Paso, Texas, and have maintained my membership in The American Legion continuously since then. The World War I veterans who founded The American Legion created, not just an organization of veterans, but a vigorous defender of basic American principles of justice, freedom and equality of opportunity. I am proud to have been a charter member of my post.

Conrad N. Hilton

We hope to work with The Hilton Corporation in the interests of those who have paid a heavy price for our continued way of life and we hope you accepted our offer to release some of the financial burden for both parties and install an elevator in The Capital Hilton.

Sincerely,

THOMAS L. BOCK

National Commander

Let's put it this way - the Hilton can save face and save a lot of protests if they take this offer. They will look very, very bad indeed if they ignore it. Andi already has commenters saying what I have said - no business to Hilton or it's subsidiaries.

Might be a good idea to bring O'Brien's back, Hilton. A very good idea.