Warning: this Times Online story will make you really angry. The Metro Hotel in Woking, Surrey, refused to give Corporal Tomos Stringer, 24, a room for the night, because, he was told, it's "company policy not to accept members of the Armed Forces as guests." How insane is that? It's like not allowing guests who are members of the priesthood or doctors.
Apparently, there had been some incidents involving soldiers from a nearby barracks, and the policy wasn't a blanket ban but an at-the-manager's-discretion rule, but nevertheless, denying shelter to a member of the armed forces is an outrage. And it gets worse!
According to the Times Online story, Cpl Stringer "was left with no choice but to bed down in his tiny, two-door car, his wrist, broken during a convoy ambush, cased in plaster."
The hotel has been hit with countless angry phone calls, blog posts, letters and calls for a boycott. Presumably the desk clerk who made the error and sent a wounded soldier out into the night has been pilloried.
How much do you want to bet the next soldier who shows up at the hotel gets the honeymoon suite with a huge fruit basket and complimentary bottle of champagne?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. It's sad.
This hotel manager treats service men as if he's in the government.
The government treats service members and veterans like this every day !!
mac at 4:27PM on Sep 5th 2008
2. I am glad that it is in the NEWS
they caused the HATE!!!!!
AND GUESS WHAT IT IS WROTE DOWN
TAKE THAT HISTORY!!!!!
edith at 10:28PM on Sep 5th 2008
3. If only Obama wasn't so far into Socialism :::sigh::: Gotta go with McCain - Greg----http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2734923/
GregbeingFrank at 1:10AM on Sep 7th 2008
4. That's terrible. Everyone involved in instituting that policy should be fired (this includes the manager, and his/her superiors). In reading the article, I understand their reasoning, but I disagree with it completely. They were totally wrong, and what's even worse is that the man was injured and homeless. How can you turn away someone like that. That's just awful.
skaco08 at 2:50PM on Sep 7th 2008
5. Most towns are very prejudiced against the military and their families. I remember overhearing a librarian in Groton, CT., refuse a young sailor a library card, because "sniff!sniff" nose in the air; he had no permanent address (just a warship docked in the river). I saw 'job applicant' signs in store windows in New London, CT., in the 1960s that said "Navy wives need not apply". They didn't care if we starved. When the Gov't starts closing the nearby bases they all start screaming though. LOL
Sue at 7:13PM on Sep 7th 2008