Couple gets results for veterans after note on car goes viral

CONCORD, NC (WJZY) - UPDATE (6 p.m. 6/15/2016): If you look at Rebecca Hayes and think she's not a veteran, she has a message for you.

"We've been at war for 15 years, our country should know there is no stereotype."

The Navy veteran, doctor and mom became upset after finding a note on her car after parking in the veteran's parking spot at Harris Teeter in Concord.

The note read, "This parking is for veterans Lady. Learn to Read and have some respect."

"I was sad, I was mad, but mostly I was disappointed," Hayes told FOX46 Charlotte. "I do feel like the note specifically called me out because I was female and it was the use of the word lady at the end that someone would question whether or not I was a veteran based on my gender."

Hayes used the power of social media to respond on Facebook.

"I'm sorry that your narrow, misogynistic world view can't conceive of the fact that there are female veterans," Hayes posted. She ended with a simple question to her attacker: "I served, did you?"

The post went viral and grabbed the attention of a couple working to get results for the mother and veteran.

"I was reached out to by a woman and her husband who wanted to offer me a free week at their vacation rental in Hilton Head to thank me for my service"

Hayes declined the offer because she said she wants to get results for another veteran, by giving him or her, a free stay at the beach.

She still doesn't know who left the note and said she doesn't really want an apology. Instead she asks people not to put a label on who is a veteran.

"We're your brothers, your sister, your daughters, your sons, your cousins, your friends, your co-worker."

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ORIGINAL STORY

A Concord, NC woman is speaking out after finding a note left on her car, berating her for parking in spot designated for veterans.

Rebecca Landis Hayes, of Concord, was shopping at the Coddle Creek Harris Teeter. When she returned, she found a note on her vehicle that read, "This parking is for veterans, lady. Learn to read and have some respect."

Hayes then took to Facebook to respond to the anonymous author:

"To the person who left this note on my windshield today at the Coddle Creek Harris Teeter in Concord, NC:

I know I parked in one of the Veteran Parking spaces today, it was hot. I had been in and out of my car several times already this afternoon, and I was only going to be a minute. Besides, the parking lot was full, so I just did it. It was the first time, and I won't do it again. I'm sorry…"

It's then that Hayes went on to further explain her frustration with the note writer.

"I'm sorry that you can't see my eight years of service in the United Sates Navy. I'm sorry that your narrow misogynistic world view can't conceive of the fact that there are female Veterans. I'm sorry that I have to explain myself to people like you. Mostly, I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to have this conversation face to face, and that you didn't have the integrity and intestinal fortitude to identify yourself, qualities the military emphasizes."

Hayes closed out her response with a simple question.

"Which leads to one question, I served, did you?"

Hayes' post has since gone viral, gaining more than 2,000 shares.