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"Virus Hoax:
Urband Legend Example"
Virus Hoax Warnings: Page 53
of 57
Target and Vietnam Veterans
December 2003
This rumor originally started in 2002 and I hoped it would go away but
lately, it has come back with additional comments. A well balanced
account of this rumor is available on Snopes, including a retraction by
the author of the original writer. You can also read a response by the
Vietnam Veterans of America and a reply from Target about this rumor.
Does Target donate to veterans organizations? Sure it does. Just because
an organization does not donate to your pet project is no reason to call
for a boycott. Do you donate to every good cause that comes your way? I
would bet not; I know I don't. Instead of donating a trivial amount to a
lot of different causes, I make more substantial donations to a few that
I am interested in. Big organizations like Target do the same and by
making that choice, they are not saying that the other causes are not
deserving, just that they cannot take care of everybody.
When this rumor started in 2002, it was the following, relatively short
comment on one man's experience with Target.
TARGET STORES DO NOT SUPPORT VETERANS!!! Subject: Vietnam vets not
worthy?
Vietnam Veterans Not Worthy Of Target's Help? By Dick Forrey, Vietnam
Veterans Association.
We asked our local Target store to be a sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans'
Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event. We received back a r
eply from Target management that "veterans do not meet our area of
giving. We only donate to the areas of arts, social actions and
education."
My thought: If the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Vietnam
veteran himself, does not meet the criteria of these areas, something is
wrong at Target. We were not asking for thousands of dollars, not even
hundreds, but simply sponsorship endorsement for a "memorial
remembrance".
As follow-up, I e-mailed the Corporate Headquarters and their response
was the same. Personally, I will NOT be buying anything at Target Stores
again. If the Vietnam Veteran does not meet their area of giving then
why should I as a Vietnam veteran, spend my hard earned money in their
stores?
Please pass this on to as many people as you know. Maybe Target and
other businesses will get the message.
Lately, someone has added to the letter, probably with the intent to
incite people's prejudices and keep the rumor alive. Now Target is
French owned - no
supports gay and lesbian causes - no
does not support Toys for Tots - wrong
does not support employees called up for military service. - no way
None of this is true. I never much cared for Target and now I know why.
Dick Forrey of the Vietnam Veterans Association
Recently we asked the local TARGET store to be a proud sponsor of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event. We
received the following reply from the local TARGET management: "Veterans
do not meet our area of giving. We only donate to the arts, social
action groups, gay &lesbian causes, and education."
So I'm thinking, if the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and veterans in
general do not meet their donation criteria, then something is really
wrong at this TARGET store. We were not asking for thousands of dollars,
not even hundreds, just a small sponsorship for a memorial remembrance.
As a follow-up, I e-mailed the TARGET U.S. corporate headquarters and
their response was the same. That's their national policy.
Then I looked into the company further. They will not allow the Marines
to collect for 'Toys for Tots' at any of their stores. And during the
recent Iraq deployment, they would not allow families of employees who
were called up for active duty to continue their insurance coverage
while they were on military service. Then as I dig further, TARGET is a
French-owned corporation.
Now, I'm thinking again. If TARGET can not support American Veterans,
then why should I and my family support their stores by spending our
hard earned American dollars and to have their profits sent to France.
Without the American Vets, where would France be today?
Feel free to pass this along to whomever you want.
Sincerely,
Dick Forrey, Veterans Helping Veterans
Copyright 2004 by Jay Jennings
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