Sgt Shaft Alert

Corporate Hillton Apparatchiks have given credence to the old adage, “No good deed goes unpunished” by their not renewing Fran O’Brien’s renewable lease.

Since October of 2003 Hal Koster, a two-tour Vietnam veteran and Jim Mayer, a combat injured Vietnam veteran and long time advocate for veterans and a small group of volunteers have been hosting a dinner each and every Friday night for the severely injured patients of Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Ward 57 and severely injured sailors and Marines at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and their families. This was begun as part of a promise to insure that this generation of American service members are welcomed home appropriately and given the recognition and respect they have earned. The dinners have been hosted by Hal Koster and his partner Marty O'Brien at their award winning restaurant, Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steak House in the basement of the Capital Hilton at 16th and K Street in the heart of Washington, DC.

This evening has become a huge success and the soldiers and their families have come to depend upon it. This evening out has taken on a much larger meaning and had a far greater effect than what was originally envisioned as a simple night out.

However, as a result of recent unreasonable, arbitrary, and inexplicable actions on the part of the Hilton Hotel Marty and Hal now need our help. For over six months they have been asking the Hilton Management for the terms for renewal of their lease. For over 5 months they were told not to worry they would have the renewal lease in a few weeks. About a month ago the greedy Hilton management stopped responding to their emails and voice messages for a status report and recently Hal and Marty received a one page eviction notice. No explanation was given. At least part of the reason likely may be be that the Hilton Apparatchiks are concerned about the increased liability of having so many severely injured and disabled soldiers in their basement each Friday (several have taken falls on the steep stairs at the entrance to Fran's (but no law suits or problems have ensued). It may be that there is very limited and problematic wheelchair access to the restaurant (although no ADA complaints have been filed). Although one doesn’t know the reasons for not renewing the lease, it is apparent that this is an unfair callous corporate business decision. Unless we can change the minds of the Hilton Hotel hard heads, Fran's will be out of business on May 1st and there will not be any place to host the compassionate and therapeutic Friday night dinners.

I urge all who read the Sgt Shaft column to contact the following officials at the Hilton and voice your support for Hal and Marty and express your concern for the reasoning behind this seemingly arbitrary decision. Please call them immediately as time is running out for them to change their mind. Please share this with anyone else who might be willing to help.

Send any supporting missive with "attention to" the officials listed below to the following email address:
hhonors@hilton.com

Stephen F. Bollenbach
Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Hilton Corporation
(310) 278-4321

Matthew J. Hart
President and Chief Operating Officer
Hilton Corporation
(310) 205-4656

Michael D. Hirsch
Hilton South Central Area Vice President
202-393-1000 X 5777

Dan Boyle
Regional Vice President
(212) 838-1558
 
Brian Kelleher
General Manager
Capital Hilton
(202) 393-1000

Regional Vice President
(212) 838-1558
 
Brian Kelleher
General Manager
Capital Hilton
(202) 393-1000

The owners of Fran O'Brien's have created a charity to help fund the Friday night steak dinners they hold for wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Donations for the dinners can be sent to: Aleethia Foundation Inc., C/O Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse, 1001 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

As National Commander of the American Legion, Thomas L Bock who supports the dinners stated, “It’s truly a shame these Friday night outings for our wounded heroes will come to an end at Fran O’Brien’s.”

It is for this reason that I join commander Bock in urging in the Hilton Corporation to renew an equitable lease for this wonderful Steakhouse.