Target and Vietnam Veterans
December 2003
This rumor originally started in 2002 and I hoped it would go away but lately, it has come back with additional comments. A well balanced account of this rumor is available on Snopes, including a retraction by the author of the original writer. You can also read a response by the Vietnam Veterans of America and a reply from Target about this rumor.
Does Target donate to veterans organizations? Sure it does. Just because an organization does not donate to your pet project is no reason to call for a boycott. Do you donate to every good cause that comes your way? I would bet not; I know I don't. Instead of donating a trivial amount to a lot of different causes, I make more substantial donations to a few that I am interested in. Big organizations like Target do the same and by making that choice, they are not saying that the other causes are not deserving, just that they cannot take care of everybody.
When this rumor started in 2002, it was the following, relatively short comment on one man's experience with Target.
TARGET STORES DO NOT SUPPORT VETERANS!!!
Subject: Vietnam vets not worthy?
Vietnam Veterans Not Worthy Of Target's Help?
By Dick Forrey, Vietnam Veterans Association.
We asked our local Target store to be a sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans'
Memorial Wall during our spring recognition event. We received back a r
eply from Target management that "veterans do not meet our area of giving.
We only donate to the areas of arts, social actions and education."
My thought: If the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Vietnam veteran
himself, does not meet the criteria of these areas, something is wrong at
Target. We were not asking for thousands of dollars, not even hundreds,
but simply sponsorship endorsement for a "memorial remembrance".
As follow-up, I e-mailed the Corporate Headquarters and their response
was the same. Personally, I will NOT be buying anything at Target Stores
again. If the Vietnam Veteran does not meet their area of giving then why
should I as a Vietnam veteran, spend my hard earned money in their stores?
Please pass this on to as many people as you know. Maybe Target and other
businesses will get the message.
Lately, someone has added to the letter, probably with the intent to incite people's prejudices and keep the rumor alive. Now Target is
French owned - no
supports gay and lesbian causes - no
does not support Toys for Tots - wrong
does not support employees called up for military service. - no way
None of this is true.
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I don't have a signature! But if I did have a signature I would hope it would be something unique! And if I did have a signature it would go right here in this space! But as I mentioned, I do not have a signature.
AI
