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Moosehead Grill In Charlotte Disrespects Wounded Warrior
There are some stories that are so absolutely repulsive, you almost have to hope you’re reading The Onion. Unfortunately, such was not the case for Marine Garrett Carnes who lost both his legs in Afghanistan.
While trying to enjoy a dinner with his family at the Moosehead Grill on 1807 Montford Drive in Charlotte, NC, some Carolina Panthers fans began taunting Carnes and his family, even going to so far as to accuse him of using his wheelchair as a crutch. One would think that as this incident escalated, the management at Moosehead Grill would have asked those taunting a war hero to leave.
Carnes, who is still undergoing treatment for his wounds at a Washington-area hospital, told them he was a veteran who had lost his legs in Afghanistan.
The situation quickly deteriorated and according to witnesses the two parties almost came to blows after one of the Panthers fans approached Carnes in a threatening manner.
Other patrons stepped in to defuse the situation, but staff asked Garrett Carnes and his party to leave. The police were called by Courtney Carnes, although no charges were filed.
Carnes’ mother, Rhonda, has since addressed a note to restaurant patrons on Facebook. She wrote: ‘Why didn’t any of you stand up for my son and daughter? And to think my son almost died for every single person in that bar, by defending all your freedom.’
I have the same questions. Why didn’t the other customers stand up for a man unable to stand up on his own? A man who fought and very nearly died for them. Why didn’t the management ask the others to leave?
The Moosehead Grill doesn’t deserve the patronage of Patriots. If you are just as disgusted as I am about their treatment of this Marine, you can contact them at (704) 525-4088. You can also express your opinions on their Google+ page here. I couldn’t find a Facebook account for them. It appears they’ve removed it after being inundated with negative publicity. I just wanted to make sure I added to it.
Despicable.
(38) Readers Comments
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Fort Hood Soldiers Decorated for Valor
I know this is a little late but who was the 1sg that told you you wer
The Nigerian Leave Request Scam
Sukhminder, she is surely a scammer. No soldier needs a civilians help
LL
Wait a minute, that’s not fair. By the time the OWNER got there, the Marine and his family had already left. Yeah, the employees could have done something about the nasty “fan,” but the owner himself said he felt terrible about it and was willing to do anything to make it up to the Marine.
It’s not fair to punish him for a butthead fan. Now, he needs to school his EMPLOYEES on tossing jackwagons like that “fan” right out on his butt!
Scott Bell - SGT.{ U.S.M.C.}
THERE IS NOTHING YOU COULD DO AS THE OWNER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER TO MAKE UP FOR THE MISTREATMENT OF THIS FINE YOUNG MARINE………… The patrons at this shithole, were lucky that my group of FELLOW MARINES were not there because there would have been an escalation.
This establishment and it’s so called employees are useless/UNGRATEFUL and I do not care how the owner felt, I am also a disabled MARINE, and I am deeply offended by these actions and “any Veteran worth their salt would not darken the door step of this place especially any MARINE. The owner and the employees should be ASHAMED of themselves treating a Veteran that way.
If there was any veteran in this place at the time should also be ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT PROTECTING THIS WOUNDED MARINE. My son who is currently serving in Afghanistan returns home and is treated like this by anyone “CAN JUST STANDBY” because their time will be rather limited……..
Sincerely
Scott Bell – Former Sgt./ United States Marine Corps
Casey
Thank you for your service Sgt. Bell
Ray Peppers cpl USMC
Oorah!!!!!
Js
You are wrong LL, the owner was there while all this happening, and only tried to reach out the family the day after it happened, when the story was starting to spread and people posted about on Facebook, don’t let the owner lie and say he wasn’t there when he was at the bar while it was happening, then went out to the parking lot while the family was calling the police, and used the excuse that he didn’t know Garrett was a veteran and that he would never treat a veteran that way because he was a marine, that shouldn’t matter that garret was a veteran a man in a wheelchair was being harassed, picked on, & threatened, and you stood by and did nothing.
LL
Js, were you there? All I can go by is the news accounts, which is what a lot of people are going by and the article I linked says, “Neilsen said he arrived at the restaurant after the group had left and was in the parking lot, talking to police.” Now, if you were there, have you spoken to the police to tell them what you witnessed? Why didn’t you stand up for that Marine?
Otherwise, yes, the owner is accountable in the sense that his employees suck and could have done differently and yeah, at least a couple of them need to be fired. In the end though, he’s just a bar owner trying to run a business. I’m amazed when people try to blame someone who wasn’t there for the actions of others. Personal accountability. That “fan” is definitely to blame, the manager who asked the Marine and his family to leave is to blame also. Everyone in that bar who witnessed it and didn’t stand up and say something, they are just weak jackasses. IF the owner does not fire the manager and put some other corrections in place and if he does not abjectly and profusely apologize to that Marine and his family, THEN I can see laying some of it at his feet.
Jude
It’s not fair to say that patrons should’ve helped. That guy as much of a jerk as he is, is three times most people’s size. I know that establishment and it is awesome and so is the owner. One guy should not represent the whole place and ruin it. I doubt that will happen again.
MarineMomTimesTwo
One question for this owner….has he fired the manager who asked the Marine to leave and not the JERKS who started it? Has he said anything at all about the fact that NO ONE in a wheelchair, regardless of whether he/she is former military should NEVER be spoken to that way? Has the owner said anything at all that anyone is free to wear whatever team’s t-shirt they choose to wear and expect to be respected at his restaurant? Too little, too late.
MarineMomTimesTwo
Sorry….I am so upset over this….these were three questions!
rick balfour
This is pretty sickening. I calmly suggest that this Bar & Grill is named for the WRONG end of the Moose. Truth in advertising and all that being considered.
SEMPER FI
Jason Bourne
Say what you want but this place should be shut down!! If this is how they treat us veterans they don’t need to be in business AT ALL!!!!!! SCREW ‘EM!!!!!
ray smith
if I owned that bar everyone of my employees would of been fired right on the spot for disrespecting a marine or anybody that defends your rights SEMPER FIDELIS OOOHRAHHHH
Diana Hinton
The employees should have had the common sence to stop anyone causing trouble in the restaurant.That is something that had to be address at the time of hire.I have worked in a few bars and you are always instructed on how to handle a situation of anyone causing trouble! If they do not comply you ask them to leave,no the victim….THEY HANDLED IT TOTALLY WRONG…and people have every right to be upset! God bless our soldiers. And other point the Marine was in a wheelchair…exactly how was he a threat? Disgraceful…..
Robert Blackwelder
Chris Neilsen stated in the Clt. Observer that his employees are trained to defuse such situations. They did defuse the situation and asked the wrong one to leave. Time for some re-training and some house cleaning.
Joe S.
There is something the owner could have done. In fact….a LONG TIME AGO. Moose Head Bar Grill is full of arrogant drunks who love to bully. Trust me, I went to high school with the majority of them. Moose Head should close down and never come back. Shame Shame Shame.
Jim
http://cedarposts.blogspot.com/2012/10/josh-tank-watts-marine-corps-have-your.html
morgan sheridan
This is one place that I will never set foot in. The restaurant staff collectively told then country that their “support the troops”, “care for our nations veterans” is nothing but empty words, as hollow and empty as their hearts, devoid of any real morality. To the blazes with them all. There is absolutely nothing the Chris Nelson can do to make things right with the Carnes.
Brian
Here’s how he can school his employees: fire his manager and assistant manager. Hire someone who gives a hoot about customer service. That would be a good start. Can’t say I feel bad for the guy, he hired idiots. That was a leadership mistake. Maybe he’ll learn, maybe he won’t. Oh well.
gene youngblood
maybe that’s a way out for ya,but your employes suck.to have a hereo in your grill,wished i would have been there. youd think more about the real deal.i think you should name a meal or a sandwich for him.an keep your eye’s open for the d.a’s in your place. gene vietnam vet,100%disabled
Nancy Sherertz
The owner’s employees are de facto his agents, but it sounds like there is plenty of blame to spread around. Wasn’t there ANYONE in the place with a backbone and something that could pass for human decency?
william stephens
Obviously his employees decided to let the regulars stay and throw out a wounded veteran.
The owner should start by firing everyone involved in this fiaso, and bar this iidiot and his buddies for life.
Then maybesomeone will buy his sob story.
Brenda Morris
Needless to say, the manager on duty should GO.The jerk who started this whole insident should be banned from the resturant…His buddies too!…Even if this was done, you still will loose a tremendous amount of business over this…Really BAD PR!!…You’ll never be able to wash the stigma of this away!
Bryan Smith
The only reason the ownerhasa “business” is thanks to our brave military. If he doesn’t appreciate our military, then he doesn’t respect our country. Lets help the owner find out how it feels to be thrown out in the cold by boycotting his business and shutting his place down. Disrespect an injured soldier…. I don’t think so, lets shut this guys livelyhood down
Signed
A medically disabled firefighter
Mark Lawrence
Moosehead Grill, I have a few words for you: Make this Right! No person who has Bled for this Country should ever have to be 86′d for his wounds. Pathetic!
Bones
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY VETERANS WERE THERE AND SAID NOTHING?
YOU SHOULD HAVE ESCORTED HIM OUT SIDE AND TAUGHT HIM TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, MEN AND WOMEN, AND YOU LET A FELLOW VETERAN GO THRU THAT!
YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN THE LOW LIFE DRUNK WHO HAS TO PICK ON SOMEONE IN A WHEEL CHAIR
TO SHOW OFF HOW MUCH OF A MAN HE IS.
I THINK THE HEALTH DEPT. NEEDS TO BE CALL IN TO CHECK TO SEE IF ANY MORE RATS OR SNAKES ARE CRAWLING AROUND ON THE FLOOR.
I AM ASKING FOR ANY AND ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY TO BOYCOTT THE
MOOSEHEAD GRILL IN CHARLOTTE, NC.
I THINK THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE NAME TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE MOOSE!!!!!!
wendy mudge
I am a Australian, and I have always said that America kills most of her good & brave sons by them going to war, and all you have left is the lazy , useless, drug affected,drunk brain dead morons like these to cause trouble, I am a english school teacher working in Thailand and I teach my grade 1 & 2 ‘s to respect all persons of any race that has payed a heavy price to keep the world safe
Bones
WHAT WAS THE DRUNKS NAME?
HE PROBABLY HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND IS A BIG SPENDER IN THE BAR.
Sandy Brown
Panther fans who had too much to drink should have been kicked out anyway…for surely it was only a drunk who would have acted that way! to anyone especially one of our finest.
We need to pray for the owner, for the fan and for the total healing of the Marines…all of them.
PS Prayer for our people to be
Jon Riggs
I say send in the Marine Corps! We should set a day where we hold a fundraiser for the wounded warrior project and hold it there! Kill them with kindness and remember our Corps values! If a few misguided need to be locked on then I am so sure there is a few DI buddies of mine that would travel for the occasion !
Don Bloss
I don’t know if they will allow my post to be shown but if they do, I’d appreciate it if you would allow me the honor of addressing the pukes involved. I would assume that there will only be four or five who would take an active part in our confrontation. If there are more, it might take me a little longer than i anticipate but I am patient.
God Bless you and the USMC. I’ll take care of the rest.
i was never given the chance to be a Marine. My parents forced me into joining the Air Farce and I’ve been disappointed for years because of it. I served with the 1365th Photo Squadron and had the honor of following a squad of Non-existent Marines in Laos and Cambodia for a few months in early ’70. I am still impressed with their honor, integrity, low morals, high moral and outstanding ability. They kept me safe and taught me how to party when we had the opportunity. At first they didn’t accept me. I was the AF Puke. After a few firefights they accepted me, encouraged me, trained me but I was never really one of them. I had the chance to switch services but would have been required to lose 4 grades in rank, starting once again as an E1. I was too stupid to do it. I have always wished I had. Love the Marines? Respect, envy, and yes, I guess I do love the Corps. I would say “Semper Fi” but I believe that should be reserved for those that have earned it.
Doug
I think “Tank” should be the next contestant on Bully Beat Down…..I am sure that Mayhem Miller could find someone to pound the shit out of this moron…
James Zielinski
I just spoke with the idiot Josh, 704-875-3625. He’s says a statement will be forthcoming so everyone will know the truth. I don’t care a**hole under no circumstances can you justify your behavior!! God, I wish the weather was better here in Chicago. I would love to hop on the hogs and pay a little visit to that POS!
Don Bloss
see my post later in the thread. let me know if you decide to take a ride. I’m in FL and would be interested in helping you with remodeling the bar.
Nous
What the owner should have done was told the panther fans to leave and fired the employees for not helping a disabled person.
Bill
I wish I’d been there.
I guess you could say Panther fans are a bunch of pussies just like their team.
Ian
Josh Watts – was the fat drunk. I would never set foot in this bar. It is amazing that Josh Watts picked a fight with a man in a wheelchair and no one there stood up for him.
Don Bloss
I would to God that I had been there. I am so angry I am shaking. My email address is donscontracting@hotmail.com. If any of the chickenshit people, particularly the drunk and his friends will contact me I will meet you anywhere and time you propose. You are the lowest slime on the Earth. You should never have been born. I pray that any children you ever have will be mentally and physically handicapped, that your wife leave you for a muslim pig and that you die from the most painful form of cancer known to man…that is unless you will meet me. Your death will be relatively fast, but painful.
I am tired of the pukes of the world getting consideration, particularly when they disparage a squared away young hero like this Marine.
Bring friends. Bring all your friends. I will be alone except for Tradition, Training and Experience.
Cpl Hunter
If a young man is sitting in a resturant with no legs in a wheel chair naturally as human beings we would have compassion for him. There are laws not discriminating Disabled and handicap individuals (no matter who they are) to ensure appropriate accomedations are made for them. On top of that we are referring to a veteren who paid a sacrifice so that owner could make money and have the freedom to own a business. Unfortunately we also have a constitution that supports his rights as a owner to make decisions within the guidelines.
Cleary a bad decision! What’s even more disturbing is that anyone and everyone associated in that situation knew this was a marine who lost his legs in Aghanastan.
For those of you saying the owners not responsible and the employees should be trained better. The lesson here is, that’s why he owns a business and hires employees to make him money. The reason why no one stood up for that marine was due to the simple fact they’re cowards. The marine couldn’t stand up for himself becuse he had no limbs to support him. The irony in all this is, the marine couldn’t stand up, but he didn’t shut up, and Therfor stood up for himself by his words! For those that did the wrong thing or let it happen should take time and reflect on this the rest if their life. That marine gave them the god given right to not say a word! And becuse of his courage, honor, duty, and loyalty to our country, cowards will be cowards! Thank god I have someone like him fighting for me, because even without legs he stood taller than anyone in that restaurant. He didn’t have the handicap, all the cowards that didn’t do the right thing actually stooped lower (verbally speaking)!!!! The Marine’s not the one “using” his wheel chair as a crutch nor handicap. Everyone else in there ware handicapped by there cowardly behavior!!!
Thank you for serving and paying the ultimate sacrifice!! You’re bad ass….AIRBORNE!!! You can sit at my table anytime!