A Pleasant Surprise

[tbradsim1]

Went to pick up my watch of 30 yrs a Rolex Explorer, it had stopped and the last service was 12 yrs ago. The only Rolex repair is at a high end jewelry store in Lafayette La. Chatted with the man behind the counter and was told 480$ to break it down and service. Plus parts. I shrugged and said ok, Guy asked if I was a Vet, said Navy but that was a long time ago. When I picked it up the bill was for 280$, I asked why the lower price and from the back came the owner and said if I didn't have to pay the repairman it would be nothing. I didn't know what to say, then I told him this is only the second time I've heard that, took my old Uncle and his wife to Branson , never haveing been out of Loiisiana and they asked if I was a vet and got highly discounted Show Tickets. I shook his hand with a lump in my throat. WOW!

 

[zack24]

Bradley,
Always good to hear of someone doing the right thing- there's not enough of that in the world today!

 

[huntertrw]

tbradsim1:
How nice of them! My thanks to you, Sir, and to all who have served our country. Yours is a debt we can never truly repay.

 

[voorhees]

Good on them. That is only a small token to what you and others sacrificed.

 

[simnettpratt]

You deserved the discount, and it's a shame he couldn't do it for free.

 

[daimyo]

Well deserved, good to see people who still know what's important.

 

[lucky695]

That is quite the discount. Good to hear.

 

[crazypipe]

I call that Good Stuff ::

 

[blueeyedogre]

There are quite a few places that will give Vets a break. In my mind its the least anyone can do for a serviceman. My Dad owned a drycleaners and would never charge to clean uniforms. He always said it was his way of giving back.

 

[wyfbane]

Glad they hooked you up! Membership has it's priveledges.
I am often surprised at the level people will go to in order to honor us Veterans. It is very much appreciated on my end, I can tell you.
Good story! Thank you.

 

[petes03]

Stuff like this should happen more often!

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Great story, Bradley. I know most vets don't expect it or demand it, but you sure as all hell deserve it.

 

[dcrguns]

I always give veterans a break. Thanks for your service no matter when it was!!

 

[maxpeters]

When I was getting ready to come home from Clark Air Base in 1973, they suggested we wear our civilian clothes when we landed in Calif. Times were very different then. Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley would be telling everyone what the U.S. was doing wrong. Every night. Flower children would hang out at the airport and make you feel like you were not wanted back in the country. And telling a prospective employer you just got out of the service was like telling them you just got out of prison. It wasn't something they thought very highly of.

But I am so glad to see that things have turned around to the extent that they have. You should be proud to have served. It's good to see people venerating veterans today. God bless them.

 

[mso489]

Ran an errand at one of my local grocery chains today and as I turned into the parking lot lane nearest the front

door, I saw a parking spot marked with a sign that said, Special Parking for Veterans. Huh? I sort

of squinted and read it again. It's the day after Veterans Day, but the sign looks permanent. I figured I was dreaming

and in a minute I'd wake up and find a real spot, but in I drove. Went and bought my big jar of peanut butter, and came

back, and the car and sign were still there. I've probably been smoking too much burley lately.

 

[yazamitaz]

That is a great story Bradley. Some neighbors were posting "Veteran discounts" in our area, from restaurants to hair cuts to car detailing. I told them while I appreciated the input, I don't shop at places just looking for a discount; not to mention that I don't walk around with my DD214.
With that being said, I love when I meet someone and because I am a vet they go out of their way to do me a solid. Glad that store owner took great care of you.

 

[eightywon]

Very well deserved. Thank you sir.

My girlfriends mother got a free sundae at the ice cream parlor yesterday.

 

[tuold]

That's the way it should be done. Here's the way it shouldn't.
When I was at a museum last summer in Sante Fe, NM I stopped at the entrance to buy a ticket. The young lady asked if I was a vet because they give discounts to vets. I said I was. She then asked me for my discharge papers to prove it. I said I didn't have my DD Form 214 on me. She said she would accept a tattoo. (?!) I said I don't have any tattoos but I'm happy to support the museum by paying full price. She then said they liked to support vets by offering discounts. I didn't press the issue, but I felt like my word was worth nothing and felt less than "supported".
So like yazamitaz mentioned, do any of you vets carry your discharge papers in your wallet... just in case? I was thinking of photographing mine and putting it on my phone or my wife's iPad.
BTW, maxpeters, things were not much better in 1977. I was advised not to travel in uniform either.