As most of you know, or should know, tomorrow is Veteran's Day. A day to thank those who fight for and protect our freedoms as Americans: past, present, and future.
It is also a day that is widely commercialized due to the corporations and department stores, much like Christmas.
On this day, many restaurants offer free meals to Veterans, but most establishments will extend the offer to dependents knowingly and unknowingly or if asked to do so.
The problem with this is that most, if not all establishments, only have a certain number of meals to give away to Veteran's before they run out. Like hotels only have so many discounts they can give away per night. Now, I understand that if you are offered a discount you feel obligated to take it, because, hey, it was offered to you. But it isn't rude to politely say, "Thank you, but I would appreciate it more if a Veteran received that discount rather than a spouse".
I have heard every excuse in the book for why you should accept the free or discounted meal if offered to you:
"They are civilians. They don't know any better, so I don't bother correcting them."
Excuse me, you are a civilian too. Unless you are currently active duty, reserve, guard, or prior-service, then you are a civilian. And being experienced in the military lifestyle, it is your responsibility to correct them.
"It's a blessing! My husband was deployed, but I went to Outback, Applebee's, and Chili's last year with my mom and we were offered free meals at each!"
It is not a blessing if you are restaurant-hopping and asking for the offer to be extended to you! You took three meals that could have fed three Veteran's who have actually fought for their country! Shame on you!
Blessing: God's favor and protection. A prayer asking for favor and protection.
"It's wrong to decline a free meal."
No, it isn't wrong. It is wrong to accept something knowing it was not meant for you. It is not wrong to decline something you know was not meant for you in a polite manner.
The reason this hits home with me is because I have seen Veteran's get denied things left and right, this year especially. They get denied healthcare, they get denied jobs, they get denied a pension, and even homes....but by God if I am going to stand by and watch a Veteran get denied a MEAL because a dependent felt it was their right to accept a discount and enjoy it.
God bless America.
Amen! even better encourage your soldier to go with his or her fellow soldiers, why does a spouse even need to go? They are so crowded on these days...hint. Operation Homefront just had a HUGE military spouse day Bash, and NO there were NO soldiers trying to get in!! lol!! Spouses, you do already have your own day~please have some respect! Take this day to give to a Vet, not take from them we already do that daily, go serve food at the local homeless Vet shelter and put food on plate of a vet instead of taking it off of one~ glad to see many spouses who are like minded.
ReplyDeleteI think its great that there is a day dedicated to the spouses but it isn't called Veterans Spouses Day on the calendar so they should not get included in the free items. I would be honored to decline the offer and even pay for a veterans meal if they were denied. It it because of them that we even have our freedom. We all should remember that next time and stop being so greedy!
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