Posted on Nov 14, 2016
Chili's manager takes away vet's free meal on Veterans Day
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The parent company of Chili's says it wants to make things right after a veteran had his free meal taken away on Veterans Day.
Ernest Walker posted a video to Facebook on Friday of a manager taking away his meal at a Chili's in the Dallas suburb of Cedar Hill. The Army vet writes that the meal was taken away after another diner raised questions about the uniform Walker was wearing. Walker says the manager took his meal even after he showed him his military ID and discharge papers.
Walker says he bought the fatigues he was wearing after he was discharged as a tribute to his service.
Brinker International, which owns Chili's, tells KDFW-TV that it's taking the matter "very seriously."
Walker's lawyer was set to met with the company Monday.
Ernest Walker posted a video to Facebook on Friday of a manager taking away his meal at a Chili's in the Dallas suburb of Cedar Hill. The Army vet writes that the meal was taken away after another diner raised questions about the uniform Walker was wearing. Walker says the manager took his meal even after he showed him his military ID and discharge papers.
Walker says he bought the fatigues he was wearing after he was discharged as a tribute to his service.
Brinker International, which owns Chili's, tells KDFW-TV that it's taking the matter "very seriously."
Walker's lawyer was set to met with the company Monday.
Chili's manager takes away vet's free meal on Veterans Day
Posted from militarytimes.com
Veterans Day
Restaurants
Food/Chow
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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No one said some of the managers for these francises were really all that smart.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL 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 name tag, 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 name tag 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.
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 name tag, 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/
The fact that Ernest Walker "was wearing a military uniform without a name tag, 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 name tag 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.
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 name tag, 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/
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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MSgt Jeff S.
LTC Stephen F. I find it suspicious that he 'bought a uniform' after he retired. I also noticed that in the video he incorrectly referred to HIPAA regulations regarding the young man questioning his service animal. The prohibition against (in depth) questioning a service animals validity flows from the ADA. Since we didn't see or hear the actual questions, he may have been "in-bounds" there, since the ADA (only) allows a business to ask if it is a service animal required for a disability and if it has been trained to perform a specific task.
All that being said - I agree that the young manager handled the situation very poorly and should have just left it alone.
IMO - It's a damn shame that a) The gentleman felt the need to lawyer up b) all the free meals Chili's gave away, all the good will generated - marred by this one instance.
All that being said - I agree that the young manager handled the situation very poorly and should have just left it alone.
IMO - It's a damn shame that a) The gentleman felt the need to lawyer up b) all the free meals Chili's gave away, all the good will generated - marred by this one instance.
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looks like a young inexperienced person jumping to conclusions and flying off the handle and landing in a mass of assumptions... seriously educate, heavily discipline or terminate him
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