Many companies advertised military discounts for several years, apparently an effort to promote their brand name by taking advantage of public sentiment. The focus of public sentiment has shifted away from veterans' issues and companies are backing away from the earlier flag-waving patriotism promotional advertising, quietly reducing these programs in hopes of eventually returning to maximum profits on every sale.

I'm honorably discharged, two-tour Vietnam combat veteran, 4 Purple Hearts, now at 80% service-connected disability compensation. That is now, but for many years the Purple Heart and a buck-and-a-half might get a free cup of coffee, and VA benefits had to be fought for in years of appeals and paperwork shuffles.

I remember apartment complexes and property management companies that openly advertised "no military", stores and restaurants with signs "no dogs, no soldiers", businesses that would not hire veterans, military commanders restricting wearing the uniform off-base to avoid confrontations, and learning to never mention I was a veteran at a nice party and causing a scene with the truly hip and cool folks.

Personally, I find it offensive that today's big businesses are trying to capitalize on veterans' issues after several decades of following the general trend of ignoring veterans entirely.

People notice my license plates in a parking lot, want to shake my hand and say "Thanks for your service", and it's all I can do sometimes not to ask "Where the hell were you 50 years ago?".

End of rant.

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People notice my license plates in a parking lot, want to shake my hand and say "Thanks for your service", and it's all I can do sometimes not to ask "Where the hell were you 50 years ago?".

50 years ago, I was in North Little Rock Arkansas, open our back gate and you were on Camp Robinson. I spent the better part of 14 years on Camp Robinson playing soldier, Daniel Boone...

I would have told you thank you then as I would today.

If you are offended by those that say "Thanks for your service", why do you have the license plate?

Guys, if you will cease quoting OttoSig's second post in this thread, your posts will stop getting caught in the moderation queue. Will you have mercy, please?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Guys, if you will cease quoting OttoSig's second post in this thread, your posts will stop getting caught in the moderation queue. Will you have mercy, please?

That last one is my fault, I didn't even think about it being flagged on the quote...

I'll bow out of the thread though...no good use of arguing about Lowes to be honest.

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Personally, I find it offensive that today's big businesses are trying to capitalize on veterans' issues after several decades of following the general trend of ignoring veterans entirely.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I heartily agree. What bugged me in the 1990s were all the signs stating "Support our Troops", obviously using faux patriotism to push their products. I thought supporting our troops was a given. (Yeah I am ignoring the few naysayers).

I wouldn't say that Home Depot is using faux patriotism to push their products as I've been going there for years and only found out about their Veterans' Discount in the last 3 years.

I'd say the same for Lowe's with the exception of their Veteran parking.

Other places like Smart & Final and a number of other companies give Veterans discounts but you won't see that posted anywhere that I'm aware of.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

Other places like Smart & Final and a number of other companies give Veterans discounts but you won't see that posted anywhere that I'm aware of.

Our local redneck diner now has a sign at the cash register, stating that there is a 10% discount for military, including veterans.

Yeah, I'm unaware of any company that's actively advertising discounts for Veterans, but I do know of a bunch of places that actively advertise discounts for first responders.

Oh, and add Verizon and AT&T to the companies that offer Veteran discounts but don't seem to advertise it.

The ones that offer it but don't advertise it are, in my opinion, the ones who are sincere.
And one last one, the gift shop at the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor offers military discounts but doesn't advertise it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash-LB,

quote:

Originally posted by SW_Sig:

quote:

People notice my license plates in a parking lot, want to shake my hand and say "Thanks for your service", and it's all I can do sometimes not to ask "Where the hell were you 50 years ago?".

50 years ago, I was in North Little Rock Arkansas, open our back gate and you were on Camp Robinson. I spent the better part of 14 years on Camp Robinson playing soldier, Daniel Boone...

I would have told you thank you then as I would today.

If you are offended by those that say "Thanks for your service", why do you have the license plate?

My reactions are a response to the realities of 30-40 years of being generally perceived as damaged goods, socially unacceptable, irredeemable due to my participation in a war that was unpopular, then suddenly being exalted as some sort of hero by the general public.

As to why I have the license plates, my home state provides free license plates for Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans (over 50% service-connected), the alternative being license fees and taxes totaling a thousand bucks or more annually.

It was not easy to experience life in the US as a 20-year old wounded combat veteran during the 1970s and 1980s. Every TV show and movie with a role depicting veterans portrayed us all as drug-addled psychotic baby killers. We were not welcomed in colleges or universities. Many employers refused to consider us (until federal law provided tax incentives via the Veterans Reemployment Act). We were frowned upon in churches and fraternal organizations. Even the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) refused to accept us as members for many years. The "better families" did not allow their daughters to date soldiers or veterans. VA medical facilities treated us like stray dogs, only grudgingly providing necessary treatment and frequently losing records or arbitrarily cancelling appointments.

Making the transition from being kicked around and treated like pond scum, then held up as shining examples of American exceptionalism was not easy to do. My reaction to those who insist on shaking my hand and thanking me for serving continues to strike me as little more than virtue signaling by people who want to make themselves feel self-righteous and patriotic.

Yes, I suffered some damage that may never be overcome completely. I have gotten over the feelings of resentment and anger, but I will probably never forget the harshness of public sentiment towards those of us who served rather than seeking endless deferments or running away to other countries to avoid the basic duties of citizenship.

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Originally posted by PASig:
I think it was costing them too much to have an unlimited veteran's discount and they had to limit it. I was disappointed last year to find that the 10% veteran's discount did not apply to some 12/2 and 14/2 Romex wire I was buying but oh well, they don't have to offer it at all and be happy they even offer it is my attitude.

I also suspect it was getting abused, like contractors coming in and using it for their own business when it was supposed to be for personal use.

I also think when everyone was doing projects while working from home cut into their bottomline...but yeah--I go to Lowes to get lumber, screws, wire, etc.--and the very thing I'm there for is ineligible for the 10% discount...very fucking shady

You think everybody supports our troops because for the last 20 years they generally do. Before that, not so much.

I don’t mind Lowes because I don’t mind using fake emails if need be. I’ve bought enough product from Lowe’s though that they have my real email. I’ll take the discount and the close parking. Thanks.

I don’t search out any discounts, if there I’ll take it, including Lowes.

I was 8.5 active, about 6 reserves, no service disability.

My sister works with a ‘lady’ that went in the Army at the depths of the Iraq War, never should of let her in. She already had a drug history, likely quit before signing up. Well, she made it through a few weeks of basic training. She never did rejoin training, never graduated basic training. She was ushered out with a ‘disability’.

Now this lady had a ‘disabled Vet’ license plate, gets help from ‘wounded warriors’, a pretty good disability check, and is first in line for any Vet benefits. I think she’s in her upper 30’s, a good ways to go. All she did was a few weeks of basic training.

As it often runs in families, her husband worked for less than a year for the State, now has been off work over a year trying for disability. What a racket.

I know one Apple may not spoil the whole bunch, just saying.

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Originally posted by sourdough44:

has been off work over a year trying for disability. What a racket.

My wife is a Licensed Clinical (psychiatric) Social Worker (LCSW), now mostly retired. When she was practicing full-time she had a number of patients who requested documentation for permanent disability status. Many of those were people who clearly just did not want to work. She refused to provide the requested documentation for those cases, and counseled them to get off their asses and get back to work. She used words that were more clinically appropriate but conveyed the same meaning.

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Originally posted by LoboGunLeather:
4 Purple Hearts, now at 80% service-connected disability compensation.

That's just wrong. Someone with 4 PHs should absolutely be 100% considering the shit I've seen. People who have never left this country milk "service" for 100%. That gets them not only $3,700/month but also property tax exemption in Texas and Florida. Seems like it's always those who do the least that get the most.

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Originally posted by V-Tail:
Our local redneck diner now has a sign at the cash register, stating that there is a 10% discount for military, including veterans.

I don't we can call it a redneck diner anymore.

I think there are 2 big reasons why the GWOT vets are treated the way we are:

1. guilt over the way Vietnam vets were treated
2. that attack was very real happening on American soil and broadcast on live TV

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Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:

has been off work over a year trying for disability. What a racket.

My wife is a Licensed Clinical (psychiatric) Social Worker (LCSW), now mostly retired. When she was practicing full-time she had a number of patients who requested documentation for permanent disability status. Many of those were people who clearly just did not want to work. She refused to provide the requested documentation for those cases, and counseled them to get off their asses and get back to work. She used words that were more clinically appropriate but conveyed the same meaning.

My mother is also a retired LCSW. She worked with a juvenile program for a few years, and often did welfare checks / evaluations. She told me that in practically every case, the kids wouldn't reveal how many people lived in the home or if there was already any kind of government assistance. The parents would ask my mother if their kids qualified for disability because of learning and / or behavioral issues. My mother said in her office, this was referred to as a "crazy check", and was quite the rage in certain parts of the territory she covered.

I use the veteran discount as Lowes as much as I can. It offsets the 10% sales tax in my AO.

I use my vet discount once in a while. Some of the cashiers at my local Lowe's really seem to resent giving the discount and I get some dirty looks like I'm trying to steal something. Guess what lady, it ain't your money!

last time I asked at Home Depot, if they matched the Lowes veterans discount, I was told only on Veterans Day.

NK402 -- I believe that was the Home Depot policy a few years ago, but no longer true.

I recently registered at the Customer Service desk at the local Home Depot store. They assigned an ID that automatically brings up the veteran discount at both the self-service checkouts and the checkouts that are staffed. It works year round, not restricted to Veterans' Day.

quote:

That's just wrong. Someone with 4 PHs should absolutely be 100% considering the shit I've seen. People who have never left this country milk "service" for 100%. That gets them not only $3,700/month but also property tax exemption in Texas and Florida. Seems like it's always those who do the least that get the most.

There has been inequity in the comp and pension exam system for years. When the veteran has PTSD that is not likely to be apparent unless it is very severe. There is an attempt by the VA to balance things but at times they clearly fall short.