Supporting the troops in the UK
Just a wonderful heart-warming story from England. From
The Sun:
Garage wouldn't serve soldier
An Asian worker at a BP filling station provoked fury by turning away a soldier because he was in uniform.
The shocked Army officer – wearing combat fatigues – was told to go away and change before he could buy beer from the service station shop.
But witnesses claimed the snub was due to the attendant’s antiwar views.
The incident is the latest in a series of blows to Forces personnel, who feel neglected by the nation.
The officer is a captain with 16 Air Assault Brigade, whose 5,000 troops fought heroically against the Taliban in Afghanistan last summer.
He said the public snub – at Wisley South Connect station on the A3 near Guildford, Surrey – left him humiliated and shamed in front of a dozen other customers.
He asked to remain anonymous in case of reprisal attacks by extremists, but reported the incident to BP and to the Army Families Federation.
The federation’s spokeswoman Melanie Pullan told The Sun: “I talked to this officer, and it was very disappointing to hear his experiences. It made our blood boil.
“We would ask the nation to get behind their troops, considering the sort of sacrifice so many are making.
“Their war has never been against Muslims. It’s a shame people can’t respect their service to the country, whether you agree with the politics behind it or not.”
Make that line: "An Asian ex-worker at a BP filling station" please...
BP did issue an apology but:
BP last night issued a grovelling apology to the officer, claiming it was a bungle over the licensing laws and NOT a result of prejudice or politics.
A BP spokeswoman said: “We apologise sincerely to the Army officer for the inconvenience and embarrassment that has been caused.
Too bad - BP is an otherwise good company regarding the environment...
Posted by DaveH at October 24, 2007 8:18 PM