In this post, I offer my thoughts on Delta Airlines removing a U.S. Marine Veteran from a flight for wearing a suicide prevention t-shirt. (Edition 1:12)

We have all seen offensive language printed on clothing, including curse words, vulgarities, hate crimes, and the like. That is one of the reasons why many schools and businesses prohibit hoodies and other such clothing. But when a Delta Airlines flight attendant recently removed a United States Marine Veteran from a flight boarding in San Francisco for wearing a t-shirt designed to call attention to the way too frequent incidence of military veterans committing suicide, it’s an appalling example of overreach and making a bad decision.

Catherine Banks was wearing a t-shirt that read, “Do Not Give In To The War Within. End Veteran Suicide,” from the Til Vahalla Project collection intended to raise awareness of the estimated 22 veterans who commit suicide each day. I don’t know about you, but I am all for this project – even if it stops just one veteran from taking their life.

Korey Shaffer, a Marine veteran and founder of the Til Vahalla Project organization, said, “To hear someone was mistreated for wearing our gear that helps pay for the memorials delivered to families of fallen heroes and therapy for veterans, is appalling. Miss Banks, thank you for not only your service, but for your support in our mission. You deserved better.”

I totally agree. Shaffer also offered to cover Catherine Banks’ airfare to reach her intended destination, as well as offer to fly her to Florida to tour the Til Vahalla Project’s operations.

For his part, the male flight attendant reportedly told Banks he didn’t care about her military service to our country. A Delta spokesperson, left to pick up the pieces, said, “We appreciate her (Miss Banks) patience as we continue to work to understand what occurred during this event. Most importantly, we are thankful for her service to our country.”

While Delta’s policy is to refuse to fly passengers if their “conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers,” the recent incident at San Francisco International Airport should never have happened. That people would take offense or be annoyed about a suicide prevention message is yet another example of how thin-skinned our society has become.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go order a new Til Vahalla t-shirt. You can, too, by visiting www.tilvahallaproject.com.

REMEMBER…

◊ Policies are in place for companies and organizations to handle truly offensive, vulgar, or dangerous situations. Employees need to use common sense before overreaching like the Delta employee did by humiliating Miss Banks.

◊ Delta took the first step in issues and reputation management by offering a company apology. They can follow that up by instituting another round of training for staff about how to correctly implement their policy. They can and should also provide Miss Banks with free travel for life on Delta Airlines. That would prove they mean what they say.

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