Posted on Nov 14, 2016
Chili's Apologizes For Taking Meal From Black Veteran On Veterans Day
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This is piss poor customer relations! Did Chili's do enough by making an apology?
This really grinds my gears here! A Veteran with a service dog and a military ID has his Veteran appreciation meal taken from him by the manager. Your opinion here, is the Veteran "entitled" or is the manager "mis-informed"? Is there something else going on here?
This really grinds my gears here! A Veteran with a service dog and a military ID has his Veteran appreciation meal taken from him by the manager. Your opinion here, is the Veteran "entitled" or is the manager "mis-informed"? Is there something else going on here?
Chili's Apologizes For Taking Meal From Black Veteran On Veterans Day
Posted from huffingtonpost.comPosted in these groups: 
Veterans Day
Dogs
Veterans Day Dogs
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 11
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig I wanted to do some research into this incident. The most unbiased source seemed to be the local CBS station.
The fact that Ernest Walker "was wearing a military uniform without a nametag, which he purchased after retirement," caught my attention. With all the news about fake veterans over the past few years, I am not surprised that somebody wearing a military uniform which usually has an a nametag that didn't have one would draw suspicious attention to him.
I think that Ernest Walker made a mistake by wearing a military uniform when he should not have to. I also think Chili's made a serious error by denying a free meal for veterans to this veteran.
This year my wife and I had a fee meal at Olive Garden [spouses were not supposed to eat free but the manager was gracious]. In the evening we went out to eat with another couple at Applebee's where I had another free meal and my wife had soup. I rarely can eat two meals in a day; but, each Veterans Day I do my best.
Below is the CBS-local background story.
"CEDAR HILL (CBSDFW.COM) – A North Texas veteran says he was disgraced and humiliated at a Chili’s restaurant, on a day meant to honor and pay tribute. Now the U.S. Army veteran is asking the company to take action.
Ernest Walker and his attorney plan to meet with management at Dallas-based Brinker International, Chili’s parent company, later today.
This past Friday, on Veterans Day, Walker and his service dog were enjoying the free meal that Chili’s Restaurants across the country were offering to veterans. Dozens of restaurants and businesses had special offers for veterans.
Walker was wearing a military uniform without a nametag, which he purchased after retirement, when he says another customer at the Cedar Hill restaurant questioned whether he was actually in the service.
When a manager then questioned the veteran showed him his discharge papers and identification. “He should have said, ‘thank you for your service; I’m sorry.’ Instead of him saying that, he says to me, ‘well he [the other customer] says your service dog is not real.'”
The manager can be seen on cell phone video taking Walker’s food away anyway. Walker posted the video on YouTube after the incident.
Walker says he wants Brinker to take responsibility for the manager’s actions. His attorney, Kim Cole, said, “I certainly hope that Brinker International takes a stand and makes it clear that they don’t condone that type of behavior in their establishment.”
The incident has drawn criticism from people all over the country. Over the last couple of days, hundreds of people have lashed out at the restaurant, calling on Chili’s to apologize.
Brinker International sent CBS 11 News a written statement that read, in part, “Our goal is to make every guest feel special and unfortunately we fell short on a day where we serve more than 180,000 free meals as a small token to honor our Veterans and active military for their service, hence these actions do not reflect the beliefs of our brand. We are taking this very seriously and the leaders in our company are actively involved with the goal of making it right.”
While the company responded to several people who criticized Chili’s on Facebook, Walker says they have yet to reach out to him personally. Over the weekend the Army veteran said, “That’s fine. They got to do what they do. I’m not a company. I’m just me.”
Walker now hopes the face-to-face meeting, expected to happen later today, will be a positive step.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/11/14/veteran-who-had-free-chilis-meal-taken-away-to-meet-with-company/
LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGM (Join to see)
The fact that Ernest Walker "was wearing a military uniform without a nametag, which he purchased after retirement," caught my attention. With all the news about fake veterans over the past few years, I am not surprised that somebody wearing a military uniform which usually has an a nametag that didn't have one would draw suspicious attention to him.
I think that Ernest Walker made a mistake by wearing a military uniform when he should not have to. I also think Chili's made a serious error by denying a free meal for veterans to this veteran.
This year my wife and I had a fee meal at Olive Garden [spouses were not supposed to eat free but the manager was gracious]. In the evening we went out to eat with another couple at Applebee's where I had another free meal and my wife had soup. I rarely can eat two meals in a day; but, each Veterans Day I do my best.
Below is the CBS-local background story.
"CEDAR HILL (CBSDFW.COM) – A North Texas veteran says he was disgraced and humiliated at a Chili’s restaurant, on a day meant to honor and pay tribute. Now the U.S. Army veteran is asking the company to take action.
Ernest Walker and his attorney plan to meet with management at Dallas-based Brinker International, Chili’s parent company, later today.
This past Friday, on Veterans Day, Walker and his service dog were enjoying the free meal that Chili’s Restaurants across the country were offering to veterans. Dozens of restaurants and businesses had special offers for veterans.
Walker was wearing a military uniform without a nametag, which he purchased after retirement, when he says another customer at the Cedar Hill restaurant questioned whether he was actually in the service.
When a manager then questioned the veteran showed him his discharge papers and identification. “He should have said, ‘thank you for your service; I’m sorry.’ Instead of him saying that, he says to me, ‘well he [the other customer] says your service dog is not real.'”
The manager can be seen on cell phone video taking Walker’s food away anyway. Walker posted the video on YouTube after the incident.
Walker says he wants Brinker to take responsibility for the manager’s actions. His attorney, Kim Cole, said, “I certainly hope that Brinker International takes a stand and makes it clear that they don’t condone that type of behavior in their establishment.”
The incident has drawn criticism from people all over the country. Over the last couple of days, hundreds of people have lashed out at the restaurant, calling on Chili’s to apologize.
Brinker International sent CBS 11 News a written statement that read, in part, “Our goal is to make every guest feel special and unfortunately we fell short on a day where we serve more than 180,000 free meals as a small token to honor our Veterans and active military for their service, hence these actions do not reflect the beliefs of our brand. We are taking this very seriously and the leaders in our company are actively involved with the goal of making it right.”
While the company responded to several people who criticized Chili’s on Facebook, Walker says they have yet to reach out to him personally. Over the weekend the Army veteran said, “That’s fine. They got to do what they do. I’m not a company. I’m just me.”
Walker now hopes the face-to-face meeting, expected to happen later today, will be a positive step.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/11/14/veteran-who-had-free-chilis-meal-taken-away-to-meet-with-company/
LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGM (Join to see)
Veteran, Who Had Free Chili’s Meal Taken Away, To Meet With Company
A North Texas veteran says he was disgraced and humiliated at a Chili’s restaurant, on a day meant to honor and pay tribute. Now the U.S. Army veteran is asking the company to take action.
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SPC Erich Guenther
Even if he was a fake Veteran and obtained the meal via fraudulent means, it is completely inappropriate to take away his meal.
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LTC Stephen F.
SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas - If he had been wearing an old uniform with no name tag there would not have been any suspicion that he was a veteran. However he was wearing a current camouflage uniform, which every soldier knows is not authorized unless you are in the military, without a name tag which drew attention to himself. The picture in my post shows what he looked like.
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SGM (Join to see)
SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas I went to Applebees on Veterans Day and got a free meal. After paying for my wife and leaving a generous tip, I got out for about what I would have paid anyway. But the only thing I had that I got in the military was my retired ID and beer gut. I saw a lot of guys in there wearing T-shirts with military slogans, not that I know if they showed an ID or not.
Wearing the uniform was a mistake. The manager not being briefed to accept a military ID and discharge papers was a mistake.
But the only thing blowing this incident out of proportion is going to get, is Chili's not offering a free meal next year. Chili's did the right thing in demoting the manager and apologizing. The vet who lost the meal should let that be enough, because he's not going to get more, except less businesses offering thanks to us. I'll personally buy him a weeks worth of replacement meals, if he'll let it go.
Wearing the uniform was a mistake. The manager not being briefed to accept a military ID and discharge papers was a mistake.
But the only thing blowing this incident out of proportion is going to get, is Chili's not offering a free meal next year. Chili's did the right thing in demoting the manager and apologizing. The vet who lost the meal should let that be enough, because he's not going to get more, except less businesses offering thanks to us. I'll personally buy him a weeks worth of replacement meals, if he'll let it go.
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LTC Stephen F.
SGM (Join to see) - I concur with your assessment that this incident will most likely make Chili's reassess their free meals for veterans. However they have offered 10% discounts to veterans and service members all year long. Hopefully that will continue. SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas
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Horrible move by the restaurant. I don't think it's appropriate to tie this to the election though and to politicize it.
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig Thanks for the link. The manager looked very young to me and shouldn't have taken the meal away - bad move for him and Chili's in my opinion. Would the Huffington Post printed the story about the customer wearing a Clinton T-Shirt? The Manager should have been fired and hopefully he will receive an apology from Chili's. The idiot that said something about not serving individuals in Europe needs to be shipped back to Europe - just my opinion!
Michael ran out of Votes Up for the day - will catch you tomorrow morning partner! Thanks
Michael ran out of Votes Up for the day - will catch you tomorrow morning partner! Thanks
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SPC Erich Guenther
Speaking from experience it is really difficult to find a competent Restaurant Manager, the pay is crap and the working hours are crap and not many people want the job.
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