Forwarded email recounts an incident at Cracker Barrel restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee in which a member of the Marine Corps League was denied permission to play patriotic songs on his bagpipes in honor of Memorial Day.
Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: May 2009
Status: True
Email example contributed by Colonel Dan, May 27, 2009:
MARINE VETERANS SNUBBED AT CRACKER BARREL RESTAURANT ON MEMORIAL DAY.
MARINE VETERANS HONORED AT DIXIE CAFE ON MEMORIAL DAY.
Today is Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor our nations War Dead.
Five Marines in uniform had just completed a Memorial Day Service, to honor the veteran in the care of Apple Grove Alzheimer's & Dementia Residence.
After the service, they went to the Cracker Barrel at Hacks Cross Road and Nonconnah Parkway. This service was one of six such services that the Marine Corps League had participated in since Friday. While waiting to be seated and after being seated several customers asked our piper who was wearing a Marine Corps kilt if he was a Bagpiper, on the reply of yes, asked if he would get his Pipes and play a Patriotic tune in honor of Memorial Day. The Piper said he would need the permission of the manager. A server went to get permission, she returned and stated manager had said no, that they do not even allow the singing of Happy Birthday because they had had a complaints.
One of our Marines went to speak to the manager personally, and received a rude reply of no, stating no birthdays either. The manager was told that several customers had requested to hear the medley of the five service songs in honor of Memorial Day. The manager was asked why he was selling patriotic merchandise and at the same time rudely dishonoring Veterans on Memorial Day. He was firm in his NO! The five Marines cancelled their orders and left. We told the manager that we would see that all veteran organizations were made aware that the Cracker Barrel does care for the patronage of this nations veterans. We will never eat at a Cracker Barrel again. The manager was also told that in our travels through many states we always stopped at the Cracker Barrel and had played the Pipes and sang in groups close to 40. He said he had never heard of such. The manager did say the Piper could play on the front porch, but there was no one on the front porch, I guess he sends his birthday celebrants out side also. We have always been allowed to gather at a CB and Pray before our meal and Sing the MARINE HYMN after the meal, and always without exception, to much applause from the other patrons. As we left the CB, a man followed us to the parking lot and identified himself as a minister, and saying he would like to know what the conflict was about and we told him, he stated he was going back to talk to the manager.
We then went to Dixie Cafe on Hacks Crossroad. We were met at the door by a server who stated he was a Navy veteran of Desert Storm. He welcomed us and stated all veterans in uniform would receive a 10% discount on their meal as a thank you from Dixie Cafe. Meal was Great service was excellent.
Semper Fi,
Tom Williams
Analysis: True. In a personal response to the author of the above message, Cracker Barrel Regional Vice President Stan Warner acknowledged that "one of our people made a bad decision" and apologized on behalf of the company to Mr. Williams and the other Marine veterans involved.
A public statement I received from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. on May 27, 2009 echoes the sentiment:
Dear Mr. Emery,
Thank you for getting in touch. Please know that Cracker Barrel deeply regrets that we did not meet expectations during the recent visit you contacted us about and that we unwittingly offended some of our country's finest-Marine veterans. It was never our intention to cause insult and we apologize to any and all who have felt snubbed by this incident. We have spoken directly with a member of the Marine Corps League that was involved in this situation and believe that we have resolved this satisfactorily.
What I can say in explanation (but not as an excuse) is that it was, indeed Memorial Day, a busy holiday that has many, many people traveling around this great country and stopping in at Cracker Barrel along their way. We were very busy with people waiting for tables and the store managers and employees were doing their very best to get people seated and served as quickly as possible for a good holiday weekend. In all the hubbub and in trying to respect the needs of all our guests, it nevertheless seems that we made a poor decision in this case by asking that a Marine Corps League Bagpiper who was waiting for his meal perform a patriotic tune on the front porch rather than in the crowded dining room, as requested by another guest. We deeply regret that this attempt to accommodate the needs of all turned out to be a severe disappointment to some. Cracker Barrel's mission statement is "pleasing people" and we work hard every day to provide an outstanding experience for all our guests. Clearly, that did not happen on this day.
Please know that no disrespect was intended. We at Cracker Barrel share your patriotism and passion for America. Quite a number of our Cracker Barrel employees are veterans or have family who are currently in service to our great Nation. Our deep personal connection adds significance to why I'd like to share with you that one of the organizations that Cracker Barrel has supported for several years is the Wounded Warrior Project. The WWP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and enlisting the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women. We support the Wounded Warrior Project because we are proud to be of service to those who have taken such good care of our country. In fact, the WWP will receive a portion of the proceeds of our newest exclusive music CD, "For Our Heroes" by Montgomery Gentry. This CD just became available on May 25th.
Again, we deeply regret this situation.
Sincerely,
Angela Kubic
Guest Relations Supervisor
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
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Last updated: 05/27/09
