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| Restaurant Serving Veterans May Have To Close |
| 2006-04-14 |
| (via Mudville) 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) *********** 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? If 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 ********** (other extensive info and feedback at link) |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 Chalk this up to one part distaste for wounded vets, one thousand parts white-hot DC real estate market and changing demographics. Franny's is one of those old-school restaurants that the Olive Garden/ Ruby Tuesdays/ Applebees juggernauts have mostly wiped off the map. Rising rents and a growing preference for arugula are working their black magic on the neighborhood restaurants everywhere in the DC metro area. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-14 12:06 |
| #1 Possible loophole - there's no such day as April 31 |
| Posted by: Slamble Shinerong9756 2006-04-14 11:45 |