It starts out kinda like joke however this is no laughing matter. No kidding, this actually happened to me and my little brother this afternoon.
So here it is, November 11th: Veterans Day. Me and my brother Mike wanted to go pay a visit to our grandfathers gravesite and to the Veterans Memorial at the Forest Lawn Cemetary in Beaumont, TX.
Like I said, it starts out like a bad joke. Here I am an active duty Coast Guardsman along with my brother, an Iraq War Army Vet on our way into the local Target in Beaumont. We wanted to pick up an American flag to put at our grandfathers grave; a WW II US Navy Veteran.
After going through the entire "Super" Target store we couldn't find a US flag. We cornered one of the employees hoping we overlooked it and he could point us in the right direction. No dice, the kid had only been working there for three days. He did however ask another employee, who in turn radioed the back room.
Through out the whole radio system store wide: "Do we have any American Flags?" was heard. The reply came back, " We don't carry them."
I worked at Target in college; matter of fact at that store, in the stock room... I know for a 100% without a shadow of a doubt that flags used to be carried in the garden and stationary departments, so I asked the kid.. "You don't stock them, or you are out of them?" He asked my question over the walkie talkie. The reply came back, "We don't stock them." Needless to say, Mike became beligerantly patriotic and we left.
Thanks alot Target!
Last year Target asked the Salvation Army not to place bell ringers in front of its stores during the holidays. We can't buy Christmas trees there, we have to purchase artifical "Holiday" trees. Now this year we can't even buy an American flag on Veterans Day.
This is not a joke, a story, or funny in the least little bit. I am very upset over the matter. I would urge every one of you tell people what happened there to us today. It is a shame that we can defend our country but we can't even buy an American flag, or any other for flag that matter, to put on a WW II vet's grave on Veteran's Day.
I WILL NOT SHOP AT TARGET AGAIN. I ASK THAT ALL WHO READ THIS PLEASE BOYCOTT TARGET AS WELL.
I know they sell them online.. it was pointed out by my belligerent brother last night.
I still stand by my statement. I don't shop online, alot of people don't. Target is selling an image in it's stores. That image is a pollitically correct one with an aim to make everyone feel good.
I work for Target, flags were carried all summer. Unfortunatly they are considered a seasonal item, and are rotated with other products quickly. They always treated me and the other military with a lot of respect. I feel its still a far better store than Wal Mart, or K Mart who tried to tell me a Military ID wasn't good. The salvation army restriction is there because if they allow them, they have to allow everyone, even if their promoting flag burning.
Sorry you had a bad experience. My wife has worked there 12 years and thinks this may have been an uninformed team member. a lot of the folks working Oct-Jan are seasonals and 9admittedly) not focused on customer service. As for WALMART - well, I hope you enjoy the experience (sic).
Not to get too far off topic, but as I pointed out before... I worked for Target while I was in college. I started out as a seasonal employee and was kept on. I made it my business to know what I sold, and kept track of.. however, I'll give the kid the benefit of the doubt because that is alot easier to do from the stock room vice the floor. The back room attendant he radioed should have known.
As for the flags being considered a "seasonal item" well, that's a shame. I don't think patriotism is something that should be "seasonable" or "fashionable." But then again, you can get a flag lapel pin any time you want as well as a little yellow ribbon for your car if you need it. Come to think of it... they exploded onto the market and into fashion after 9/11. Hmmm... I wonder why those patriotic devices aren't considered "seasonal?"
