Six Flags Denies Veteran: Military Vet Denied Admission At Six Flags Because Of T-Shirt

Six Flags denied a military veteran for wearing a t-shirt proudly supporting the U.S. Marines. Mario Alejandro and his family went to the theme park in New Jersey for a birthday party on Saturday. The 33-year-old Marine wore the shirt that his family got him on Father’s Day. All was fine until they got to the park.

Alejandro, who fought in Iraq in 2003, was told to leave because his t-shirt was offensive, NJ.com True Jersey reports. The Woodbridge veteran was confronted by a park staff member.

Alejandro says:

“I was walking in through the gate with my wife and kids, who were in front of me, when a security guard grabbed me and said: ‘I can’t let you into the park with that shirt on. That shirt’s offensive.’ I said that it’s not offensive, it’s a military shirt. I told him that I am an Iraq veteran… I served in the war. But he said: ‘I don’t care, you have to take that off… or you need to buy another shirt to put over it.'”

The black t-shirt he wore has a machine gun colored in red, white, and blue with the words, “Keep Calm and Return Fire.”

Alejandro refused to take off, or cover up the shirt. It’s a shirt he doesn’t want to hide.

On Father’s Day a few months ago, Alejandro’s family gifted him with a lot of shirts that were purchased from The Reconnaissance Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that helps to support Recon Marines and their families.

Alejandro says:

“I thought it was great, I loved it. The shirts fit my personality perfectly. They’re military and they’re patriotic. That’s my thing. I wore them to all over the place, to my kids’ baseball games – everywhere. And I got nothing but compliments about how great they were. No one ever said they were offensive, because it’s obvious that they’re in support of the military and the United States.”

The veteran denied admission to Six Flags goes on to reveal that two women looked at him and shook their heads. He said next thing he knew, a man grabbed his arm and asked him to leave because they said the t-shirt was offensive.

“I told them that’s it’s not offensive, that it’s a military shirt and that it means something,” the veteran continues, “but they said: ‘I don’t care, get out of the park.'”

Alejandro and his family turned around and left, but not before letting everyone in line know that Six Flags just told a military veteran to go home.

“My wife and my son were crying, because they didn’t understand why this was happening,” he said. “I just told my son to remember this day. To remember how they treat veterans.”

Six Flags Great Adventure spokeswoman, Kristin B. Siebeneicher, released this statement Thursday:

“Our goal is to maintain a fun, safe and family-friendly environment. Our dress code does not permit clothing with vulgar, offensive or violent language or images. If a guest is wearing such attire, we ask them to remove and replace it with another item of clothing; and if they do not have one, they are able to purchase a replacement item at a gift shop.”

She adds:

“We work closely with them throughout the season to offer special events that honor our service men and women and their families, including a recent July 4th tribute, and an upcoming ‘Salute the Troops’ event over the Labor Day weekend. n addition, active members of the Army, Navy and Air Force helped open our new thrill ride this summer.”

Alejandro feels the theme park should “revise their policy.”

“… I laid in a hole for 36 hours with no sleep, and had friends die for this country and so the people here could have the freedom to things like visit amusement parks. So when they told me that I couldn’t come in there with my family because of my shirt – a patriotic shirt – it hurt a lot. No other veteran should ever have to experience that.”

Mario Alejandro is considered disabled because of hearing loss and post-traumatic stress disorder suffered from his military service.

A message from the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation was posted to their Facebook page reading:

“One of our supporters was denied entry to Six Flags Great Adventures for wearing a shirt that supports the MRF. We said this shirt would be limited, but we’re re-releasing it. Stand by for the link.”

The foundation has a link to the t-shirt up now for those who want to purchase it.

Should Six Flags have denied the military vet admission into the park the way they did? What do you think about the t-shirt Alejandro wore that day?

[Photo Credit: Mario Alejandro / NJ.com]