Veterans!! Wal-Mart doesn't care about us.

[MindPilot]

An LTTE in Today's San Diego Union-Tribune:

On Nov. 10 and 11, I went shopping for some Veterans Day merchandise, just something small such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, flags, baseball caps, etc., as long as it had a patriotic theme. After not being able to find anything at a Sears Essentials, I asked a cashier, who referred me to a store manager. He apologized but said the buyers determine what items and displays are put on the floor.

After noticing plenty of holiday items, I went home shaking my head and decided to call on another big retailer, Wal-Mart, in both Lemon Grove and Rancho San Diego. Much to my surprise, I got the same story from each of them. I take this as a personal slap in the face, and I would bet I'm not alone. Parades as well as special activities for the vets are great and deeply appreciated, I'm sure.

It just seems to me that this very important holiday is slowly losing its importance to certain people. Someone might remind these “buyer bigwigs” that without the veterans of this country, there might not even be a need for Sears Essentials, Targets or Wal-Marts.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061119/news_mz1e19lets.html


My response:
I never thought I would ever find myself writing these words, but hooray for Wal-Mart!

A letter published Sunday complains that a couple of major retailers didn’t carry Veteran’s Day gift items.

While I certainly appreciate the writer’s intentions, I think I personally would be a little offended if someone were to recognize my veteran status with a red, white and blue coffee cup.

In a world where “supporting the troops” means putting a yellow ribbon on your SUV, I’m happy to see there has not been a commercial movement to reduce the country’s appreciation for its veterans to a bunch of flag-emblazoned trinkets.

You want to honor our service? Vote. Stay informed and engage your representatives. Teach your kids civics. Read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Read them again. And above all don’t let our military go into harm’s way before you know the truth about why they’re going.

I have plenty of coffee mugs; knowing that you are using the rights we veterans protected for you means so much more than any patriotically-themed gift item ever could.

This time Wal-Mart did the right thing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Or you could buy one a t-shirt here:

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/war/-/pv_design_prod/p_765954.28017448/pNo_28017448/id_8230783/?click=true&CMP=KNC-F-ALL

Or donate to a worthy veterans's cause:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/index.php