Joshua Hoffman is a quadriplegic former Marine. So when he went to Michigan's Adventure, an amusement park, his family expected he would be admitted for free since he wouldn't be riding any rides. They were wrong.
The park insisted that he and his nurse pay admission because there are no exceptions. "We just can't be in a position of picking and choosing," said a general manager for the park. "We have grandparents (who pay admission) that come in our park every day that have no intention of ever going on a ride. It's not based on the level of participation."
Hoffman's family was not having it. "He went to Iraq for all of us and took a bullet in the neck. He sacrificed everything for his country," Joel Lovell said. "I was just kind of stunned."
What do you think? One the one hand, this dude is clearly incapable of participating in any roller coaster riding. On the other hand, does his injury mean the normal rules of the park don't apply to him?
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Friday 19 June
By Kate
This does stink! I get the policy and the comparison to grandparents, but still, somebody at that park should catch a clue! Don't know how much admission is, but they are getting way more than that in negative recognition by sticking to their policy. How about a little common sense, if not heart for an American hero!?!?! Isn't it our Marines and other military who provide us the freedom to enjoy a day at an amusement park?
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Friday 19 June
By Ride the Snake
So being a war vet gives you the right to not pay for things when you don't want to? He signed up for the Marines, he knew the risk.
That isn't to say I don't appreciate what the troops do or go through, and I would certainly be willing and honored to pay the way into an amusement park for a WWII vet or a soldier wounded in Afghanistan.
According to the logic in this story - One should be able to get in for free at a local amusement parks if they agree to not go on the rides, correct? The park can't discriminate against non-disabled vets, so the rule would have to apply to everyone.
@Kate - if you feel strongly about this - set up a fund to help pay for Amusement Park entrance fees for disabled vets, that way everyone wins.
Friday 19 June
By Beverley Clement
I agree. This man served his country, and all of us, with honor and major sacrifice. He, and all who have served our country so well should be admitted to all amusement parks free and with a huge smile and words of thanks. The real "bottom line" is what have we done to thank all the vets who have come home from war in defense of our country and all of its citizens?
Friday 19 June
By Julie
Thank you Kate, so much. I feel the same way. I am kinda bias, though, because I am in the Army and went to Iraq too :D but, you are right. Heart is exactly what those people DON'T have. It's ridiculous!!! It's people like you that make it an honor to serve you and wear my uniform. Thank you again. Stay wonderful!
Friday 19 June
By Ellis
No disabled vet should have to pay for admittance into an amusement park. How tight assed this manager has to be.
E
Friday 19 June
By Lex
Additionally, their "policy" is full of holes. He CANNOT participate. "Level of participation" implies a choice. He has none. Grandparents can choose to ride the merry-go-round. I do not think this gentleman, or his nurse, are free to attempt even that feat. These people are just greedy jerks!
Friday 19 June
By h. wright
the wheelchaired marine should go in free along with any grand parent in a wheel chair, on a mobile stroller, etc that obviously doesn't have the choice to ride or not to ride due to age or illness. can'rt the amusemewnt mpark worke3rs be trusted to use their descretion. personally, if i was in line with kids and over heard the situation with the marine, i would either have paid for the ticket or turned around with the kids and left...i'd sit with the kids, explain the essence of the confrontation, then ask their
opinion. on their nay or yay would determine if we ever went back. knowing my kids, they nor others would use the park in the future. the manager was not wrong; however, the owners need to review the rules.
Friday 19 June
By R.O. Whitehead
Binging of Army, I'm no Marine fan, but in his
case, they should not make hime pay. A phycially
wounded solider has not only been wounded but
there are many other wounds in which he and they
see.....The Work Is, If you've never been there,
then "SHUT UP". We're only talking one ticket to
an ammusment park. How low can you get by making him pay admition.
Friday 19 June
By Connie
My first inclination is to agree with you. Then I'm reminded that the amusement park is a private business and ordinary citizens rely on its income. The practical solution would be to have a discount program in place for seniors, veterans and the handicapped...OR set aside specific days offering free admission for specific categories.
I wonder WHY our Marine was even taken to an amusement park when he couldn't particate.
Friday 19 June
By Jenny
I agree with the amusement park people- he should pay, because he is paying for ADMISSION TO THE PARK- just like everyone else. He may not be able to ride the rides, but they cannot discriminate for age, race, religion, disability, etc. Would this even be a topic it they charged a non-marine parapalegic? NO. So yes we thank him for his service but there is an admission fee to get into the park.
Friday 19 June
By A Marines Mom
Yes he should get in free!!! He fought for your right to freedom, where is his now?! Confined to a body that no longer is "free" to walk and run.
Friday 19 June
By Jeff
Kate SNAKE who replied before me is the one this really goes out to YOUR AN ASSHOLE YOU NEVER FOUGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM YOUR AN ASSHOLE This man is just BREATHING and I am just crying. GOD lets a holes like you live? WHY?? You know what YES DISABLED VETS SHOULD HAVE MORE RIGHTS than those who made it out unscathed. God Bless America And God Bless Our Troops
Friday 19 June
By J.W.
ALL disabled vets should receive FREE entry into ANY park!!!!!! They have already PAID THEIR PRICE in blood!!! ANY REAL AMERICAN WHO DISAGREES SHOULD BE ashamed. All we do is defend our country and the rights of our citizens. My brother Marine rolled in there in a WHEELCHAIR and those money-hungry despots didn't have enough HONOR, RESPECT, or decency to give him a free pass!!!! Why don't you move your park to IRAQ, or Iran... You showed no more respect to that Marine than our enamies abroad would. GREAT JOB you disloyal PUKES, THING IS we will keep fighting for your rights to act like PUKES...it is what makes our Armed Services THE BEST IN THE WORLD. I hope the your park goes bankrupt and the shareholders wind up HOMELESS and abandonded...the way my BROTHER MARINE must have felt. GOOD Gracious....I would like to get them "in the pit" for 5 minutes. Thanks for showing your gratitude to a HERO. MAN.you make me sick
Monday 22 June
By Elmo
Ride the Snake you should be ashamed of yourself. Yes all of our miltary know the risks they are taking when they join. They are doing it so ignorant people like yourself can sit around and complain about all of the "freebies" they are getting.
Friday 19 June
By rebecca
I agree with Kate and many others. HE IS INCAPABLE OF RIDING ANY RIDES! Does this park charge admission for newborns? If so, that is an ignorant policy as well. I can see the logic of his nurse having to pay.
Friday 19 June
By Connie
So far I do agree with all comments. I'm in the state of shock that no one can make a decision to let this young man into the park with his nurse. There is nothing wrong with letting him enjoy himself. This park must enjoy the bad publicity. What would happen if no one showed up to the park on a great holiday weekend!Let say 4th of July The amount of Money lost would be amazing...
Friday 19 June
By MIStinks
Every year we take 35 to 50 underprivilided kids from the Portland, Ionia, Muir area somewhere for a day of fun they otherwisw would not have. I grew up in Portland and love my memories.
As a retired military officer I'm absolutely outraged that this stupid woman does not have enough common sense to see the error in their coporate agenda. SHE SHOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY not becasue she wanted this disabled soldier to pay but because she is not smart enough to have and facilitate the responsibility of operating a park like this.
I can and have done only one thing. I have removed "Michigan Adventure" from the list of acceptable place for these kids to go. we never ask for discounts becasue of our numbers but we DEMAND places that represent the best interests of the community.
You good people in GR should run her out of town on a rail. She's a disgrace to the community
Friday 19 June
By Kim
Unfortunatly, if the park were to admit him because he is disabled, the number of vets that are disabled would dramaticaly increase. At least until they got into the park. Because of those who would take advantage of it, the park cannot give speacial treatment to this one person. Thank you for serving, Sir
Friday 19 June
By SAL
This is CRAZY...
This whole story because his "his family EXPECTED he would be admitted for free since he wouldn't be riding any rides."
This is a company that has employees which need the work to get paid to pay for their needs. Especially in this economy. Maybe I just don't get it! The matter to the fact is although he's disabled and will not be riding rides he is still enjoying all the commodities this park has to offer. And the employees at the park that make this happen have to get paid. I'm sure Uncle Sam is taking care of him and whatever his needs are otherwise. Why be so upset? This Park has policies for a reason why should they discriminate? HEEEEELLO, this is why there's POLICIES!!
Friday 19 June
By Johnkcmo
OK I would have paid for his admission if I had witnessed this, but to come to a park and have the family demand that he get in free is not acceptable either. Does every one with a disability expect to get in free now or should just VETs get in free, or disabled VETS? By the way I spent 9 years in the Air Force and I have a disability, but I wouldn't go anywhere and not expect to pay, when everyone else has to.