Posted on 09/29/2004 8:06:55 PM PDT by Robert Drobot
Note: I’m copping with some difficult medical issues, and had a disastrous crash of my hard drive twice in succession (worm). This is the reason I’ve didn’t have the opportunity to address this serious issue on FR.
It remains an issue today, because the San Jose Army National Guard will be conducting another 'Open House' in November. I think we are obliged to get behind an effort to show our men and women in uniform our gratitude for their service, without their getting a glove across the face for ‘trespassing’ on private ( COSTCO ) property.
On Saturday, September 11, 2004, I was returning home after participating in a Pro-America 9-11 Remembrance at Stevens Creek Road and Winchester Boulevard, when I decided to stop at COSTCO, Santa Clara to run an errand.
As I approached the entrance, I noticed three smartly dressed uniformed members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry representing the San Jose Army National Guard. They were assigned to distribute a flyer addressing an 'Open House' at the Hedding St Armory being held that weekend. I thanked them for their service to our country, took a flyer and planned to visit them the following day.
As I entered the COSTCO facility, four or five of the COSTCO staff walked past me, surrounded our men in uniform. One of them told the Guard they must stop distributing their flyer. He said this was COSTCO policy, and further told the Guard that they were trespassing on private property.
The Guard members, wisely rejected a public confrontation, withdrawing quietly befuddled.
The following day my son and I went to the Armory. I asked those present if they were aware of the shameful action by COSTCO. They somberly responded they were aware of it, but chose to put an optimistic face on the incident by relating the positive response and welcome they received at the Great Mall in Milpitas, California.
The bottom line is San Jose Army National Guard was given the boot by COSTCO!
I’m asking you to help change this cock-eyed Un-American COSTCO policy ( if one actually exist ), and demand:
A) A letter of apology be sent to the Guard’s 185th Infantry in San Jose from the founder and chairman of COSTCO Jeffrey Brotman.
B) Take a minute to let the local print media - The San Jose Mercury News know how you feel toward the action COSTCO Santa Clara took against the men of our armed forces.
....and drop a word or two of support to:
C) Call and or write to:
COSTCO’s Corporate mailing address is: Head Office:
Jeffrey H. Brotman, Founder and Chairman COSTCO Wholesale Corp.
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah WA USA 98027
Phone: 425 313-8100
Toll Free:
Fax: 425 313-6593
Email: investor@COSTCO.com
Community Relations / Charitable Donations
Kim Cross
Community Relations & Administration
Phone: (425) 313-6182
Email: kcross@COSTCO.com
Annual Sales:
For the 52-week fiscal year ended August 29, 2004, the Company reported net sales of $47.15 billion, an increase of 13 percent from $41.69 billion during the prior fiscal year. By comparison, COSTCO's 1999 sales reached $27 billion 13% from the previous fiscal year.
COSTCO currently operates 288 warehouses, including 218 in the United States, 58 in Canada, seven in the United Kingdom, three in Korea, one in Taiwan, and a recently opened warehouse in Hisayama, Japan; and 16 additional warehouses in Mexico with a joint venture partner. The Company also operates COSTCO Online, an electronic commerce web site, at www.COSTCO.com.
I don't blame them for sticking to their policy, but I dropped my Costco membership because the company supports Kerry. Sam's Club is pro-Bush.
You should switch to Sam's Club regardless of that policy. Costco contributes to the Kerry campaign -- Sam's Club doesn't.
Oh, you are defending Union thugs on Free Republic?
Go ahead tell us how great Union Members are for America!
What union do you belong to?
Now be kind, this is just an opinion, I'm as much of pro military, pro Bush Republican as anyone on FR so give me a break and don't be yelling at me, OK?
I sure am. I am a retired CWA member. I think unions serve a terrific function when they stick with representing their members.
My union local is largely conservative Republicans and conservative Democrats. There are some liberals in the local who get scorched when they spout the liberal line.
Any more questions.
Hmmm. I thought it was only at our Costco. This sounds like systemic discrimination.
Robert - it has been posted on here many many times that Costco supports liberal causes. They are not Bush supporters. They hate conservatives. Why do you continue to shop at Costco? I cancelled my membership after I found out about their corporate policy.
It's just so darned hard to keep straight who all I'm supposed to be boycotting, protesting against, sending disapproving e-mails to and calling. I mean Walmart is conservative but they sell those evil Chinese goods and that awful liberal chicken. What's a Freeper to do?
nonsense. I see Girl Scouts, Knights of Columbus and other groups soliciting at major chains like wal mart all the time. The difference is that Costco has a bad policy and wal mart has a good one.
If you want to confirm Cosco's liberal bias, check out their book tables. They feature all of the far-left books and keep the Klintoon's works on hand even now as they turn to mold. Finding "Unfit for Command" there is difficult to impossible.
I agree, most businesses do not allow any type of handouts, it is just good policy.
We couldn't just show up with an ajenda to take advantage of the customer traffic. With out the sole purpose of purchasing goods from the store, we were in deed trespassing. However, We wrote to the local Walmart, told them our intentions and we were granted permission.
I am sure had these men in uniform asked for permission to use the private facility, it is a private, not public, they would have gotten it.
and that is thier right...As much as it seems cruel, the fliers could be passed out in another location. Which I am sure they did
Bump!
The Walton family, btw, are staunch supporters of Pres. Bush and the GOP.
But you do have the official Library of the Panderer in Chief!
The guard should have asked permission to be there. If I were a private business, I would want to support the military in any way that I could, but they do have the right to ask them to leave.
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