We Lost; The Soldiers Won't (UPDATE on Fran O'Brien's & Walter Reed)

JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs) ^ | May 9, 2006

[Ooh-Ah]

“You’re killing us,” a Hilton Deputy CEO told a JINSA supporter who managed to break through the telephone blockade. Would that it was true. You - our readers plus thousands of others infuriated by the Hilton’s tossing of Fran O’Brien’s Stadium Steakhouse Restaurant in Washington, home of dinners for wounded Iraq and Afghanistan vets - made Hilton’s life extremely unpleasant for a while. They turned off e-mails and fielded phone calls from former Hilton Honors cardholders. They got negative - and soldiers got positive - media coverage from The Washington Post, The Washington Times, NBC Nightly News, National Review Online and The New York Sun, along with many smaller outlets.

But in the end, Hilton is Hilton and we are only us. After a final emotional night full of soldiers, families, Rolling Thunder, friends and teary-eyed Fran O’Brien’s staff, the restaurant was locked out by the Capital Hilton Hotel and closed.

But the dinners are not over. As long as there are soldiers at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital needing an evening out and the company of friends, there will be dinners hosted by Hal Koster and Marty O’Brien. For now, the Hamilton Crowne Plaza-Washington D.C. has taken the soldiers in - and the first Friday night was stupendous! There couldn’t have been a nicer, kinder, more helpful or more gracious staff than the one at the Crowne Plaza, starting with Food and Beverage Manager Melanie Davis. Please consider taking your business there; JINSA will.

And, for the future...

First, we want to assure all of the generous JINSA donors who have made contributions to this program that your gift will be used, as promised, to provide a fun evening out for our young heroes. The Crowne Plaza is only the beginning.

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta has invited the soldiers to the Italian Embassy one night this month and the soldiers are already thoroughly excited. The Italians are our allies in Iraq and certainly friends of our soldiers. Finmeccanica, the Italian defense conglomerate and its companies: Oto Melara, AgustaWestland, Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems, Selex Communications, Alenia and Ansaldo Breda have been major, major sponsors of the dinners, as has Italy’s Fincantieri Marine Systems.

And Fran O’Brien’s is considering relocating in Washington with the assistance of a local real estate magnate.

The people who responded to our calls for help on behalf of the soldiers - from the e-mail flood to a lawyer who cheerfully and seriously offered to sue Hilton pro bono - understood what Hilton ultimately did not. Fran O’Brien’s dinners are not about food, they are about fellowship in the community of people who love, respect and honor American soldiers for their service to our country and to freedom.

In that respect, Fran O’Brien’s doesn’t need Hilton and neither do we.

[Lurker]

My Hilton Honors card was cut in two and returned to their office with a letter explaining why.

I never heard from them.

L

[freema]

Ping the Ping

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The Fran O'Brien's Issue on CNN

Update II: The beautiful video introduction of the interview with Meyer is up at CNN. If you didn't see the broadcast, check it out!

Update: Andi has seen it and says "YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS. If you do not have tears in your eyes, and you are not committed to boycotting Hilton over this, nothing will move you." She reports that the segment airs about 40 minutes into the program (see below for times).

Jim Mayer, the Vietnam veteran and friend of Fran O'Brien's co-owner Hal Koster who encouraged Hal to begin the free dinners for wounded troops will be on CNN tonight. Andi reports in an email:

I know it's late, but I just got the word that Jim Mayer is being driven to the CNN studio right now to do an interview with Glenn Beck that will run on CNN Headline News as follows:

TONIGHT on CNN Headline News with Glenn Beck at 7 p.m. [Eastern] and again at 9 p.m. and midnight. Jim Mayer is being taken to a studio right now to be interviewed remotely and will air later tonight.

I don't have Cable TV, so I won't be able to watch. If anybody who sees it can report, please let me know.

Andi also adds that milbloggers are getting some significant appreciation for their work on publicizing the fight for Fran O'Brien's, and shares her thoughts about their impact:

While the email campaign didn't save the restaurant, it did let them know veterans and troops care a lot about this issue. The top three executives had to shut down their email addresses ... I'm sure costing their IT department some bucks and unnecessary headaches. Plus, a PR firm had to [be] involved. They don't seem too successful in squashing the negative press.

It's really nice when you can use your blog as a way to do something good and help those who deserve to be helped. I don't think milbloggers are finished with this story. We still need to help Hal and Marty get on their feet. I should learn more tomorrow night about how we can do that [after attending the Fran's Friday Dinner hosted in another DC hotel]. Thanks to everyone for all you've done already.

So, stand by. It looks like there are still ways we can help.

posted by FbL @ 3:43 PM    

[sageb1]

Wow! What a video!

As far as Hilton Corp. goes, what cruds!

[Coop]

We discontinued using our HHonors credit card, and transferred all our HHonors points to an airline frequent flier program. All we have received are lame boilerplate responses. Hilton apparently doesn't care, which is fine. I care, and they've lost two very loyal Hilton customers due to an incredibly stupid management decision.

[Farmer Dean]

Supposedly the sight of wounded/disabled soldiers was a turn-off to the snooty Hilton guests.Well,I will NEVER again stay at a Hilton.Seems they attract the wrong class of people.

[jan in Colorado]

Thank you for this update! I will NEVER set foot in a Hilton again!

[Tunehead54]

Here you go - I'm not a big boycott type but in this case Hilton is toast. Call them at 800 445-8667 (For Rio Linda types you need to put a "1" in front of the number) and ask for "Guest Assistance" - tell them your name, phone, email info and travel history and then tell them you'll never ever stay at a Hilton unless they fix the Fran O'Brien insult to our troops.

---

At least that's what I did (twice). :-)

[patton]

Marriot Las Cruces is nice. ;)

[Txsleuth]

bttt

[Coop]

Supposedly the sight of wounded/disabled soldiers was a turn-off to the snooty Hilton guests.

That's an unsubstantiated rumor.

[mewzilla]

Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta has invited the soldiers to the Italian Embassy one night this month and the soldiers are already thoroughly excited. The Italians are our allies in Iraq and certainly friends of our soldiers. Finmeccanica, the Italian defense conglomerate and its companies: Oto Melara, AgustaWestland, Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems, Selex Communications, Alenia and Ansaldo Breda have been major, major sponsors of the dinners, as has Italy’s Fincantieri Marine Systems.

Grazie.

[Tunehead54]

Bump! ;-)

[Ooh-Ah]

bttt

[freema]

I can't watch it. Long weekend, emotions tied neatly in a bundle... mindful today that Grace is precious and laughter is sacred. God bless, with abundance beyond compare, all who support this mission. Ping List FReepmail if you want on or off this list

[RikaStrom]

Hilton certainly stepped in it with this move.

BTTT and prayers to our troops.

[freema]

They certainly did...