Army Vet Banned From Old Navy Store In Florida

Army veteran Aaron Bennett says he was banned from an Old Navy store in Jacksonville, Florida, after he pointed out a teen employee improperly wearing a Marine Corps uniform dress jacket complete with rank insignia, ribbons and a weapons badge, News4Jax.com reported Wednesday.

Bennett, who comes from a military family, knows that United States Code makes it illegal “to falsely represent oneself as having received any U.S. military decoration or medal.” The law making that illegal is known as the Stolen Valor Act.

According to Bennett, when he informed the store manager, he was approached by a deputy and mall security, who said he was banned from the store.

Bennett said he was trying to honor the uniform, especially considering that Jacksonville is a Navy town.

“It’s disgraceful, men have worked hard trying to earn that uniform and have died wearing that uniform,” he said.

The story has also made it to the Stolen Valor website and Facebook page as well as Old Navy’s Facebook page, where a number of people have expressed disgust with the company.

“My ‘Marine Family’ will no longer shop at your stores. Our veterans deserve better than the way Aaron Bennett was treated,” wrote Susan Howell Parsons.

http://americanmilitarynews.com/2013/11/army-vet-banned-old-navy-store-florida/