Woman responds to rude note left on car in veteran parking spot

CONCORD, N.C. — A local veteran is fighting back after she received an anonymous note in a Harris Teeter parking lot.

The note said, "this parking is for veterans lady, Learn to read and have some respect."

Rebecca Landis Hayes of Concord posted on Facebook:

"To the person who left this note on my windshield today at the Coddle Creek Harris Teeter in Concord, NC:

I know I parked in one of the Veteran Parking spaces today, it was hot. I had been in and out of my car several times already this afternoon, and I was only going to be a minute. Besides, the parking lot was full, so I just did it. It was the first time, and I won't do it again. I'm sorry…

I'm sorry that you can't see my eight years of service in the United Sates Navy. I'm sorry that your narrow misogynistic world view can't conceive of the fact that there are female Veterans. I'm sorry that I have to explain myself to people like you. Mostly, I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to have this conversation face to face, and that you didn't have the integrity and intestinal fortitude to identify yourself, qualities the military emphasizes.

Which leads to one question, 'I served, did you?'"

Hayes’ message is viral on social media.

A local veterans group in Concord said the note left on Hayes' car is disrespectful and sickening.

"There's no reason for something like this that gives everybody a bad name," Ken Bratton, a veteran, said.

Workers at the Harris Teeter apologized to Hayes on behalf of the person who wrote the note.

Harris Teeter released the following statement:

Harris Teeter is proud to support our country’s troops and veterans. The company introduced “Reserved for Veterans” parking spaces in October 2014 as a special way to say “thank you” to our veterans, and we love the positive feedback our shoppers often share with us about these spaces.

It is unfortunate anyone would receive a note like this, and we are certainly disappointed it happened while this veteran was shopping in our store. We have reached out to Rebecca directly to thank her for her service as well as invite her to our Coddle Creek Harris Teeter this Friday, so we can offer a small token of our appreciation.

If she is available to join us, I would like to invite you, too, Joe (Bruno.)

We will have USO-NC President John Falkenbury on hand to speak about the importance of supporting our troops and veterans as well as offer a token of appreciation to our shopper.

I would also like to mention that Harris Teeter just completed its Support Our Troops donation card campaign on May 31.

Our generous shoppers and associates helped us raise nearly $800,000 in just 30 days to support our troops, veterans and their families. One hundred percent of all funds collected during Support Our Troops will be donated to local USO chapters throughout the areas in which Harris Teeter does business. 

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