I was recently at Home Depot in Bellevue and when I was checking out the clerk asked me if I was a veteran. I replied yes and he said I was entitled to a discount (10 percent). Great, right? He wanted proof that I didn’t have at the time so I just said, “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”

After getting home I discovered that I needed more hardware to install grab bars prior to knee surgery and immediately went back to the store for more supplies. I made a copy of my honorable discharge certificate (United States Air Force in 1964) and took it back with me. After all, being retired, every little bit helps.

However, the clerk would not accept my discharge papers as proof of service. He said it was the wrong type of discharge proof they required. I asked to see the manager to find out why. I might add that my discount was only $1.89 but it was the principal of the thing.

The manager called the clerk and said he was busy, but I insisted on waiting and finally got to see him 20 minutes later. By now, I was getting a little spiffed. The manager looked to be in his mid-30s, was nice and said they only accepted active military cards and/or a little blue card now being issued for those who were honorably discharged.

I consider this a false claim that they will honor and give vets a discount but only on their terms. I tried to explain that when I was discharged more than 50 years ago, little blue cards didn’t exist nor did cell phones, IPads, and a lot of things.

He got the message and agreed to give me the discount. Asking him what would happen the next time, he simply said, “I don’t really know. These are the rules of Home Depot.” I told him to take it to management for clarification, and he simply said, “You can write them a letter if you want.”

So veterans beware if you think it will be easy to get your discount without the right “papers” from Home Depot. Hmmm. I wonder if wearing a wedding ring bares more proof of marriage than having a marriage license.

Henry Freeman

Bellevue