The sign was so unusual it just jumped out at me.
“RESERVED - COMBAT WOUNDED” was emblazoned on a sign which included the image of the Purple Heart medal awarded to every service member wounded in action since World War I.
At first I couldn’t believe my eyes, but there is was just a few feet from the front door of Cummings newest restaurant - Texas Roadhouse.
As a Vietnam Era veteran who is personally familiar with the disrespectful treatment my generation of veterans received during and after that war, I am elated to see that all generations of military service members, including the young veterans from the Gulf War, and Iraq and Afghanistan are being recognized for their service and that some companies are willing to make special accommodations for this generation of veterans who have given so much.
This restaurant is new and of course both its reputation for good food and the curiosity factor have made parking around it as rare as hens’ teeth. Still, the good people of Cumming and Forsyth County embrace the idea of giving a little special consideration to our veterans who are banged up as a result of what they have done in our name.
Not a single one of the dozen or so people I spoke with on a recent Saturday afternoon had anything but praise for the management and for the veterans and active duty service members the special parking is meant to help.
On the contrary, they embrace the special recognition.
Charl Young, a native South African who now resides in Forsyth County thinks it’s a proper recognition for those wounded in combat. Similarly, Vietnam Veteran Tom Franklin and his wife JoAnne were pleasantly surprised by the restaurant’s effort at recognizing these individuals. Joann thought that “more positive exposure” for today’s military personnel and veterans helps to enable this kind of effort on the part of business.
Walter Swenson, commander of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart tells me he suggested it to the new owners. He was “taken aback” by the nearly immediate and positive response from the meeting.
The restaurant’s managing partner Charles McMillan said implementing Swenson’s suggestion was a no- brainer. Not only would they provide special parking and a sign, but the new owners told us the company intends to provide similar reserved parking at every restaurant they own or will open in the region.
Swenson, himself wounded in action in Vietnam, couldn’t be more pleased. “It is a great acknowledgement by them to support America’s patriots,” he said.
Amazing how something seemingly as insignificant as a parking space can send a powerful message of gratitude and appreciation.
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