CALLING ALL VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL
Army veteran
banned from Old Navy store over
teen employee
in Marine uniform
Army veteran Aaron Bennett says he was banned from an Old Navy store in Jacksonville, Florida, after he pointed out a
teen employee improperly wearing a Marine Corps uniform dress jacket complete
with rank insignia, ribbons and a weapons badge, News4Jax.com reported Wednesday.
Bennett, who comes from a military family,
knows that United States Code makes it illegal "to falsely represent
oneself as having received any U.S. military decoration or medal." The law
making that illegal is known as the Stolen Valor Act.
According to Bennett, when he informed the
store manager, he was approached by a deputy and mall security, who said he was
banned from the store.
Bennett said he was trying to honor the
uniform, especially considering that Jacksonville is a Navy town.
"It's disgraceful, men have worked hard
trying to earn that uniform and have died wearing that uniform," he said.
The story has also made it to the Stolen Valor
website and Facebook page as well as Old Navy's Facebook page, where a number of people have expressed
disgust with the company.
"My 'Marine Family' will no longer shop
at your stores. Our veterans deserve better than the way Aaron Bennett was
treated," wrote Susan Howell Parsons.
"Shame, shame Old Navy. I'm so sad your
company would ban a veteran who was only pointing out YOUR mistake! Your staff
needs to be educated!" exclaimed Judy Yoder.
"Old Navy has the
utmost respect for the military and we're proud of our longstanding tradition
of supporting American troops, including our own employees and their family
members who serve. We believe there was a misunderstanding between a customer
and a store employee and are looking into the matter. We're truly sorry for any
misunderstanding or offense caused by this incident."
Bennett, however, says he doesn't accept the
apology.
"It wasn't about the jacket. I was
willing to let it go. I was done with it," he said. "The fact that
they wanted to ban me from the store because I pointed out a total discrepancy,
this being a Navy town, it dishonors a lot of people."
Visitors to Old Navy's Facebook page also
rejected the apology.
"This so called 'apology' is nowhere near
enough to make up for a former service member to be kicked out and banned for
stating a Federal Law to a store manager so they could take the matter up with
the employee," wrote Kevin Goff, who said that his wife would no longer
shop at Old Navy.
"As an Army Combat Vet also if I had seen
this employee and his so called 'fashionable coat' you would have had a
completely different and much more public display," he added.
"Banning a VET for calling attention to
inappropriate attire is unacceptable. I won't be shopping with them anymore.
Nor Gap, Banana Republic, & Piperlime. You know they're owned by the SAME
Corporation," added Tacinta Connor.
Old Navy customer service representatives were
busy responding to the messages, claiming to have "the utmost respect for
the military."
"We believe there was a misunderstanding
between a customer and a store employee and are looking into the matter. We’re
truly sorry for any misunderstanding or offense caused by this incident,"
Old Navy said.
Source:
I guess it’s time to boycott this store. I know
the Holidays are coming soon, but I feel that the above story is totally
unacceptable from anyone, or anything. At least, can I get all the Veterans and
Active Duty Personnel out there to boycott these jack-holes?
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