In an alarming incident that has sparked outrage across the nation, a California U.S. Marine Corps veteran was removed from a Delta Airlines flight last week for wearing a t-shirt that promotes awareness for veteran suicide. Catherine Banks, a dedicated military service member for over two decades, found herself in a shocking confrontation with airline staff after boarding a flight at San Francisco International Airport.
The shirt in question carried a powerful message: “Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide.” Rather than being celebrated for her service and the important message she was sharing, Banks was instead met with hostility. “A male flight attendant was saying, ‘Ma’am, ma’am,’ and I was looking around like, Who’s he talking to? And it was me,” Banks recounted. The flight attendant abruptly informed her that her shirt was “threatening” and that she needed to exit the plane.
Despite her attempts to clarify that she was a Marine veteran on her way to visit a fellow service member, the flight attendant remained unmoved. “I said, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m a Marine Corps vet… He said, ‘I don’t care about your service, and I don’t care about her service. That shirt you’re wearing… the only way you’re going to get back on the plane is if you take it off right now,’” Banks recalled, expressing her disbelief and humiliation at the treatment she received.
In a society that claims to support its veterans, this incident raises serious questions about the priorities of major airlines like Delta. Banks described the experience as “humiliating,” stating, “I feel like they just took my soul away. I’m not a bad person, and that t-shirt… I should be allowed to support myself and veterans.”
While Delta Airlines later issued a statement claiming that the matter had been “resolved,” the backlash from the public was swift and severe. A spokesperson stated, “We appreciate her patience as we continue to work to understand what occurred during this event. Most importantly, we are thankful for her service to our country.” However, many feel that a simple acknowledgment is not enough.
Social media exploded with criticism directed at Delta for their treatment of Banks. One user wrote, “Here’s how to handle this, @Delta. First, publicly apologize to this woman. Offer her free flights for a year. Second, apologize to Til Valhalla Project. Third, make a hefty donation to one or more veteran suicide prevention charities. Finally, reprimand the employee involved.”
Another user added, “As a veteran and @Delta rewards member, they need to address this very publicly. The fact the flight attendant said he ‘didn’t care’ is an issue. A shirt addressing a serious issue is not a threat. Delta needs to do right by her.”
Critics are also voicing concerns about Delta’s corporate policies, with one user highlighting the airline’s ties to Vanguard and BlackRock, suggesting that their focus on diversity and inclusion has come at the expense of the values that truly matter, like respect for veterans and their sacrifices.
As the dust settles on this disturbing incident, it is clear that Delta Airlines has a long way to go in proving their commitment to honoring those who have served our country. If they truly value veterans, the time for action is now. It’s crucial for Delta to not only address the misstep but also to ensure that such blatant disrespect towards veterans never happens again. The integrity of our nation’s heroes deserves better than this.
