TAKE A SEC. TO READ/Chili's manager who took away man's free Veterans Day meal fired

Ugly story, a black vet was enjoying his free meal for vets day. He was approached by a white man wearing a Trump shirt, who said he was no vet because they didn't let black men serve in Germany.
Walker the black customer then had the manager come out and tell him that he wasn't in the service because he had his hat on inside. Walker showed his Mil ID and discharge papers. Walker also had his service dog at his side and the manager said a guest said his dog wasn't a real service dog.

Well the manager is removed (fired), and chili's is sorry. Walker thinks it was the white man with the white shirt that stirred up trouble, and he believes the election has "changed hearts".

Something just doesn't sound right, I don't know anyone who would sit and let a guy talk smack about their military service. Hope to hear a follow up story.

Revised to include that manager was put on leave and statements from the Chili's president and the Cedar Hill mayor.

For his free meal on Veterans Day, Ernest Walker picked the Chili's Grill & Bar in Cedar Hill. The 47-year-old sat at a table and ordered a burger while his service dog, Barack, waited by his side.

Chili's is apologizing for what happened next.

As Walker tells it, an elderly white man wearing a Donald Trump shirt approached him and said that he was in Germany and that blacks weren't allowed to serve there. Walker, who is black, says he was wearing his old Army uniform.

The man walked to the back of the restaurant, Walker says, and a waitress came to pack his leftovers. Then a manager showed up.

In a widely shared Facebook post, Walker wrote that the manager claimed another guest said Walker was not "a real soldier" because he was wearing his hat indoors. Walker said he provided a military ID at the manager's request, along with his discharge papers.

"The guest also said your dog is not a service dog," Walker says the manager told him.

As Walker tells it, an elderly white man wearing a Donald Trump shirt approached him and said that he was in Germany and that blacks weren't allowed to serve there. Walker, who is black, says he was wearing his old Army uniform.

"The guest also said your dog is not a service dog," Walker says the manager told him.



Chili's president Kelli Valade said in a prepared statement that the restaurant immediately removed the manager.

"On a day where we served more than 200,000 free meals as a small gesture of our appreciation for our veterans and active military for their service, we fell short," Valade said.

Walker said he was stationed in Hawaii in the 25th Infantry Division during the late 1980s. He showed his discharge form to an NBC5 reporter at a press conference Sunday.

Walker blames the reaction of the Chili's manager to the prodding of the Trump supporter.

"I do believe that the election has changed the hearts and changed the motives of people so much so that he believed in his heart and mind after talking to the Trump supporter that I was stealing food," Walker said.

To make matters worse, Walker said, the manager didn't believe his service dog was real.

Federal law defines service animals as those that have been individually trained to assist a person with a disability, regardless of whether they have been certified or licensed by a state or local government. Restaurants that ban pets are required to allow service animals.

Though service dogs usually wear special tags or gear, sometimes they're not obvious. In that case, the U.S. Department of Justice tells businesses that they may ask a customer two specific questions: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Federal rules prohibit businesses from asking customers about the nature of their disability or demanding documentation for the service animal.

Cedar Hill Mayor Rob Franke said in a prepared statement that the incident at Chili's "is not what we are about."

"My concern for the veteran is paramount, but we must also consider the manager and how he can become a better person and perhaps do better the next time he is put in a difficult situation," Franke said. "People do best and learn the most from experience. To learn requires patience and grace, neither of which can occur in the heat of emotion, demonstration, and anger."

www.dallasnews.com...

a reply to: seasonal

Unfortunately, I have read two or three versions of this story, in one the black gentleman was much older, and the white gentleman indicated that blacks were not allowed to serve in WWII. A 47 YO black man serving, he is much younger than I, and I had both black co-workers and students during my years in the military.

What area of common sense would allow you to question what someone claimed was a service animal, as long as it was well behaved and doing what it was supposed to. Cheezus people have lost their f'n minds.

Terrible. I disagree with many of these past wars, but I respect that brave people that have fought for this country.

They have to deal with poor health care, physical wounds, mental wounds to the point where many vets commit suicide.

If this story is as reported, I hope karma catches up to this manager and the old white guy.

Discharge papers don't mean anything. Go get an ID card. I'm a retired 20 year vet and would never even try to get a benefit without the ID card. Any vet can get one. I am leaning towards the store manager as being correct but he should have ignored it. Not worth your job. I blame this on the stores. They should all ask for a current ID. End of Story.

originally posted by: Grambler
Terrible. I disagree with many of these past wars, but I respect that brave people that have fought for this country.

They have to deal with poor health care, physical wounds, mental wounds to the point where many vets commit suicide.

If this story is as reported, I hope karma catches up to this manager and the old white guy.

I am not sure if I have the date right, but everyone that has served after 1973, voluntarily signed their name on that line. I am a vet and enjoyed the hospitality of Hy-Vee for veterans day breakfast as I have for the last 8 or 9 years. Vets from WWII, Korea (my step dad is a Korean War vet), Viet Nam, 1st Gulf War, and the current conflicts all sat down and shared a meal, and swapped stories. Many of you would be surprised at how much we have in common, others would be surprised at how different we all are.

Terrible. I disagree with many of these past wars, but I respect that brave people that have fought for this country.

They have to deal with poor health care, physical wounds, mental wounds to the point where many vets commit suicide.

If this story is as reported, I hope karma catches up to this manager and the old white guy.

a reply to: Grambler

I hope this isn't true. I do find it hard to believe someone would put their big fat nose into Walker's business, and that Walker wouldn't give him a reason to shut up.

originally posted by: LifeMode
Discharge papers don't mean anything. Go get an ID card. I'm a retired 20 year vet and would never even try to get a benefit without the ID card. Any vet can get one. I am leaning towards the store manager as being correct but he should have ignored it. Not worth your job. I blame this on the stores. They should all ask for a current ID. End of Story.

I spent 7 years active duty, the only ID I have is my VA card, and didn't have one for many years. A DD-214 is perfect evidence for your service. You do realize you don't have to serve 20 to be a vet?

originally posted by: BubbaJoe

originally posted by: LifeMode
Discharge papers don't mean anything. Go get an ID card. I'm a retired 20 year vet and would never even try to get a benefit without the ID card. Any vet can get one. I am leaning towards the store manager as being correct but he should have ignored it. Not worth your job. I blame this on the stores. They should all ask for a current ID. End of Story.

I spent 7 years active duty, the only ID I have is my VA card, and didn't have one for many years. A DD-214 is perfect evidence for your service. You do realize you don't have to serve 20 to be a vet?

I'm talking about now, as in the last couple of years. All Veterans can get an ID card and they should. Anybody can carry around papers. ID cards are harder to come by without the credentials.

originally posted by: seasonal

Terrible. I disagree with many of these past wars, but I respect that brave people that have fought for this country.

They have to deal with poor health care, physical wounds, mental wounds to the point where many vets commit suicide.

If this story is as reported, I hope karma catches up to this manager and the old white guy.

a reply to: Grambler

I hope this isn't true. I do find it hard to believe someone would put their big fat nose into Walker's business, and that Walker wouldn't give him a reason to shut up.

I didn't vote for Trump, and am not a Hillary supporter, but the rhetoric by Trump during this election cycle, and his appointment of Bannon, has emboldened those that previously hid their racism. It is going to be an ugly four years.

"IF" the guy with the Trump shirt on stirred up the trouble...he needs to be punched in the face....you don't take a meal away from someone when they are in the middle of eating it....I don't give a # if the guy was a veteran or not....that's just not something you do....period !!

a reply to: LifeMode

Discharge paper dont mean squat in your world.

Your DD214 is official government document. In fact, your dd214 is what is asked for any veterans applying for health care, benefits, or certain jobs. Your post military id is as valid as a driver's license, a dd214 has no other equivalent.

originally posted by: LifeMode

originally posted by: BubbaJoe

originally posted by: LifeMode
Discharge papers don't mean anything. Go get an ID card. I'm a retired 20 year vet and would never even try to get a benefit without the ID card. Any vet can get one. I am leaning towards the store manager as being correct but he should have ignored it. Not worth your job. I blame this on the stores. They should all ask for a current ID. End of Story.

I spent 7 years active duty, the only ID I have is my VA card, and didn't have one for many years. A DD-214 is perfect evidence for your service. You do realize you don't have to serve 20 to be a vet?

I'm talking about now, as in the last couple of years. All Veterans can get an ID card and they should. Anybody can carry around papers. ID cards are harder to come by without the credentials.

26 years ago, my copies of my DD-214 were precious to me, when I applied for VA benefits 9 years ago, I still had copies of my DD-214.

originally posted by: odzeandennz
a reply to: LifeMode

Discharge paper dont mean squat in your world.

Your DD214 is official government document. In fact, your dd214 is what is asked for any veterans applying for health care, benefits, or certain jobs. Your post military id is as valid as a driver's license, a dd214 has no other equivalent.

Anyone can forge a DD 214. ID card much harder. Go try and use a DD214 to get a discount at Lowes or Home Depot. They will not accept it. You need an ID card. If all stores would require an ID card there would be much less fraud which there is a lot of it on Veterans Day. I have seen it and it's BS.

a reply to: HarryJoy

"IF" the guy with the Trump shirt on stirred up the trouble...he needs to be punched in the face....you don't take a meal away from someone when they are in the middle of eating it....I don't give a # if the guy was a veteran or not....that's just not something you do....period !!

Like I said something doesn't sound right.

Chili's was a bad choice anyway. I've gone to Olive Garden for the past 5 Veteran's Day holidays. Their bottomless salads along with the homemade lasagna is heavenly!

They don't ask for proof of your active duty, or veteran's status, unless you look like one of those Trump protesters.

originally posted by: LifeMode

originally posted by: odzeandennz
a reply to: LifeMode

Discharge paper dont mean squat in your world.

Your DD214 is official government document. In fact, your dd214 is what is asked for any veterans applying for health care, benefits, or certain jobs. Your post military id is as valid as a driver's license, a dd214 has no other equivalent.

Anyone can forge a DD 214. ID card much harder. Go try and use a DD214 to get a discount at Lowes or Home Depot. They will not accept it. You need an ID card. If all stores would require an ID card there would be much less fraud which there is a lot of it on Veterans Day. I have seen it and it's BS.

I am really beginning to think you don't have any idea and are spouting BS. I have received discounts etc, without anyone asking for proof. If you legitimately tell them you are a veteran, most businesses are happy to offer the discount. Even found that to be the case when my hair was halfway down my back, have never had anyone question my military service. Something stinks with your line of reasoning.

there is a few who are champions of what's called "stolen valor", where someone claims to be a vet, usually special ops or something amazing, and those who call them out, feel vindicated. I can see how seeing someone who is full of #, blab about things they didn't do, but in the end, is it worth all the anger and potentially being wrong over this? I suppose it depends on how deeply you feel about what you did as a soldier. Sad for the Vet, and sad that someone would think this was the right fight to champion.

a reply to: LifeMode

Oh and second, when i saw tge original article the guy had his id and dd214

originally posted by: carewemust
Chili's was a bad choice anyway. I've gone to Olive Garden for the past 5 Veteran's Day holidays. Their bottomless salads along with the homemade lasagna is heavenly!

They don't ask for proof of your active duty, or veteran's status, unless you look like one of those Trump protesters.

I will agree with you, I did Hy-Vee and Pie Five, pie five looked at my VA card, and said no problem. Hy-Vee didn't even ask.

originally posted by: BubbaJoe

originally posted by: LifeMode

originally posted by: odzeandennz
a reply to: LifeMode

Discharge paper dont mean squat in your world.

Your DD214 is official government document. In fact, your dd214 is what is asked for any veterans applying for health care, benefits, or certain jobs. Your post military id is as valid as a driver's license, a dd214 has no other equivalent.

Anyone can forge a DD 214. ID card much harder. Go try and use a DD214 to get a discount at Lowes or Home Depot. They will not accept it. You need an ID card. If all stores would require an ID card there would be much less fraud which there is a lot of it on Veterans Day. I have seen it and it's BS.

I am really beginning to think you don't have any idea and are spouting BS. I have received discounts etc, without anyone asking for proof. If you legitimately tell them you are a veteran, most businesses are happy to offer the discount. Even found that to be the case when my hair was halfway down my back, have never had anyone question my military service. Something stinks with your line of reasoning.

Actually, he's right. I just found out you can take your DD-214 to the Drivers License place and get "veteran" placed on your ID so you can use it to get a discount at Lowes. I am currently a frequent customer and could use that 10% so I did this.