A veteran was booted from an Old Navy store for complaining about a uniform-wearing employee.
The above-related incident about a customer's being banned from an Old Navy store in Orange Park, Florida, for complaining about an employee's wearing of a U.S. Marine Corps jacket was picked up by television station WJXT in Jacksonville, which reported:An Army veteran's story that he was kicked out of an Old Navy store has gone viral on Facebook and across the Internet. The retail chain says he was never asked to leave the store. Aaron Bennett says he was at the Old Navy location in Orange Park when he saw an employee wearing a dark green Marine Corps dress jacket. Old Navy [said] that the employee said the jacket with decorations on it came from a military surplus store. 'Had rank on the side, couple rows or ribbons and a weapons badge,' Bennett said. In addition to being a veteran, Bennett comes from a military family and knows that the United States Code makes it illegal 'to falsely represent oneself as having received any U.S. military decoration or medal.' Bennett said he told the store manager and was then approached by a deputy and mall security, who told him he was banned from the store. Old Navy [said] that Bennett was not banned from the store and mall management said he was not banned from the mall. 'We can confirm that mall security and the sheriff's officer on duty did not ban anyone from the mall,' said Helen Ciesla, manager of Orange Park Mall.A (since disclaimed) response to this item provided by Old Navy of Orange Park maintained that the item in question was an old French military uniform and that the employee wearing it had been 'bodily threatened by others':Sir. Just to clarify and to be clear. The jacket was a French uniform from the 1930's that was bought at an antique store. The young man thought of it as fashion. This employee as well as all others across our nation would never dream of intentionally being disrespectful to our troops. Unfortunately, we had to protect our employee because he was bodily threatened by others earlier in the day. We have seen several uniform inspired fashionable shirts and jackets as a trend lately. Again, no disrespect was intended and never will be. We stand behind our record as highly supporting our troops with our programs Operation Care and Comfort.Gap, Inc., the corporate parent of Old Navy, issued a non-specific statement about the incident claiming there had been a misunderstanding which it was investigating:Old Navy has the utmost respect for the military and we're proud of our longstanding tradition of supporting American troops, including our own employees and their family members who serve. We believe there was a misunderstanding between a customer and a store employee and are looking into the matter. We're truly sorry for any misunderstanding or offense caused by this incident.The Stolen Valor Facebook page posted an e-mailed response from Aaron Bennett about his contact with GAP, Inc., regarding the incident:I am proud to find my self among such individuals, Thank you all and I am truly honored that I had your support in all of this. I was contacted by GAP, Inc. last night and they offered an apology. The gentleman I spoke to was named Adam Russ, they still maintain that this was a misunderstanding and that GAP, Inc. did not ban me from Old Navy, that the manager acted on her own. I told him I failed to see the difference. He also stated that Old Navy has no Dress code. I told him this was about how his company handled the situation, not the kid. He is mailing me an official apology and gift card from GAP, Inc. which I will make available as soon as I receive it. I also informed him that he needs to make this right with the community as a whole, that we are one big family an look after one another. He said he would look in to it, I am going to let this ride over the weekend to get feedback from you guys and get back in contact with him with yours and the members suggestions.
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