SIDNEY – A parking spot at Lowe’s normally reserved for veterans will not be used by any vehicles this weekend in remembrance of military members who died serving their country.
Every Lowe’s across the United States, including the Sidney store, is reserving one parking spot for fallen veterans during the Memorial Day weekend.
“I think it’s definitely the least that we can do to show our support,” said Vicky Smith, the store manager at Lowe’s in Sidney.
Lowe’s employees Thomas Steiger, a veteran of the Army, and Tim Ritter, a veteran of the Air Force, took time out of work Thursday evening to create the Memorial Day display in Sidney. It features an American flag, a battlefield cross, potted plants and a sign that states, “For Memorial Day Lowe’s is reserving a parking spot in honor of our fallen military members.”
This is the first year Lowe’s has set aside a parking spot in honor of veterans who died serving their country. The company has other initiatives to recognize the military including designating four parking spots for veterans, giving veterans a 10 percent discount on purchases and offering special vests for employees who are veterans.
“It’s a very big initiative for the company to take care of those veterans,” Smith said.
Steiger said he loves working for a company that offers special benefits for its veteran employees and ensures they have time off for Department of Veterans Affairs appointments. He’s also grateful that Lowe’s allowed him and Ritter to create the display to honor those who didn’t make it home.
“I’m still able to walk, breathe and talk, kiss my kids,” Steiger said. “Those other people aren’t. That’s why we do it.”
