The (Ongoing) Battle for Fran O'Brien's

Updates from our side and their side in the ongoing debacle.

GM Brian Kelleher has answered the questions he wanted to answer over at Andi's.

My questions, including this one: Can you imagine any segment of the American public that will support or applaud you for this? If so, who? were left unanswered. I suppose "stockholders" might have been a possibility, but given the fallout I doubt it. Anyhow, if he thought about the question my purpose was served. Do read his answers to other questions though - be fair and balanced. And huge kudos to Andi fo making it happen - even while making the final preparations for the MilBlog Conference.

Meanwhile, this comment was added on an earlier post at Andi's:

As a wounded Iraqi Freedom soldier and recipient of the gracious hospitality provided at Fran O'Brien's, I would like to offer an inside perspective.

Staff Sergeant Larry Gill was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. He is a member of the 1165th Military Police Company, Alabama Army National Guard. Larry enlisted in the U.S. Marines in September, 1981. His tours of duty included California; Quantico, VA; Beirut, Lebanon; Caracas, Venezuela; Okinawa, Japan; South Korea; North Carolina; Persian Gulf; Larry was on duty at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 when terrorist drove a car bomb into the building.

He received his first Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained in this bombing, and personally met then, Vice President George Bush (George 41), in Mobile after returning home from Lebanon.

Larry continued his service in the Marine Corps and ended his tenure with the Marine Corps following Desert Shield - Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf in May 1992. He then served three years in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Larry then began his civilian duties as a police officer, and continued his military service with the Alabama National Guard. Larry married his wife Leah, in 1995, and they now have three children; Matthew, Sean, and Ryan. Larry mobilized for Homeland Defense within the State of Alabama following the Terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 9-11; and the entire unit, 1165th Military Police Company (combat support), was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in March, 2003.

Larry served as a squad leader and Non Commissioned Officer in Charge during direct support with the 1st 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Infantry, during ground combat operations in Baghdad and Fallujah. On October 7, 2003, while conducting security and crowd control operations in Baghdad, Larry was critically injured (again), when an insurgent threw hand grenades into his (Larry's) platoon. Subsequently, Larry lost over 9 inches from his left calf, and suffered nerve, muscle, and artery damage in both legs, and now wears a leg brace on his left leg to assist in walking and minimizing limping, and preventing foot drop.

I was closing manager on an evening when the new GM of the Capitol Hilton came down and walked through with Marty, discussing renovations as well as lease renewals. The renovations discussed included putting in an elevator directly to Fran's as well as repairing the Hilton's escalator that has been broken for years. There was also discussions at various times w/ Hilton management about Fran's expanding and taking over there failing restaraunt, "Twigs". Fran's wanted to take over a portion of the room service, but Hilton refused. Hilton did allow their patrons to charge their meals at Fran's to their rooms. A daily and nightly ritual of room charges was prosperous for both Fran's and the Hilton. I also had personal conversations w/ Hilton employees who after several years of hard, faithful employment, had begun to seek new employment because of the problems w/ this new GM.

Blackfive and I have been on the same page on this one from day one. I agree completely with his comments here.

SMASH too.

And speaking of the milblog conference, if you're in the DC area you can meet Blackfive, Smash, Andi, Buzz, and the rest of the gang at Fran O'Brien's this Friday night.

And we're waiting for additional details onthis:

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

The restaurant's lease at the Capital Hilton, at 16th and L streets NW, expires May 1.

The dinners have become an institution among the soldiers recovering from severe injuries at the medical center. The gatherings act as a support group for the veterans, and many fear their end.

Organizers and veterans are trying to find a place to keep the dinners going while the restaurant's owners look for a place to reopen. Donations can be sent to: Aleethia Foundation Inc., C/O Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse, 1001 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

The email that started it all

A great look at the back story of the dinners (Do not miss this!)

The Hilton response

An update as the story breaks in the mainstream media