With Veterans Day this week, I feel the timely need to say something.

Stores are required to have handicapped parking spots. Meanwhile, all the necessities are usually located at the rear of stores. This requires a “travel” of about 50 to 100 yards depending on the store.

If you need more than the necessities, then you’re probably criss-crossing the store and standing in a checkout waiting to pay. Why the “primo” parking spot?

These parking spaces should be reserved for those who really need them — or deserve them.

Here’s who deserves them: Really disabled people who require a scooter, wheelchair or family assistance in making purchases. Or maybe — here’s a thought: our military veterans. These are folks who made a sacrifice to give us all the freedoms and privileges we enjoy today.

Rather than “wasting” parking spots for those who maybe don’t really need them or abuse them, I say we replace some of them with veteran parking spots. There are several stores that have such spots, and I am grateful. These include Giant Eagle, Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Our veterans gave their all for our freedom and earned the right to the “primo” parking spots.

By the way — if you could put a buggy return next to the “primo” parking spots, it would be greatly appreciated. Just kidding!

Larry Lehew

Brackenridge

The writer is adjutant at Brackenridge American Legion Post 226.

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