A Concord woman of North Carolina parked her vehicle on June 13 at the Coddle Creek Harris Teeter in Concord.
When she returned from shopping, she found a note on her windshield that read: “This parking is for veterans, lady. Learn to read & have some respect.”
The woman, Rebecca Landis Hayes, took to Facebook the same day to respond to the unidentified author of the note:
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 received many positive comments from Facebook users thanking her for her service.
“Thank you for your service! Please park there again anytime the spot is available, it’s HT’s way of saying thank you!” wrote a Facebook commenter.
However, there were others who were as equally enraged as Hayes.
“Wow! Plus, you continue to serve daily! Hope they don’t need you to save their life someday! Too many ignorant, entitled people in this Country!”
“I’m so enraged on your behalf. Thank you!” wrote another.
By Tuesday afternoon, the post had been shared on Facebook over 2,000 times. According to local reports, Hayes said Teeter reached out to her on Monday to apologize for what had transpired at their store earlier.
