SERVICE…..and I don’t mean Room Service!

This past Saturday, May 21^st, was Armed Forces Day and this coming Monday, May 30^th, is Memorial Day.  As we begin to plan for summer vacations and end the school year for many, let us not forget about our service men and women who are currently serving or have served in our armed forces. Let’s especially remember, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their life for our country.

At our hotel we have a Bellman, Matt, who is a Specialist E4 in the Army Reserves.  Matt’s specialty is Chemical, Nuclear, and Radiological bombs/attacks. Wow, heavy stuff right?  Matt has been called for training duty and top secret assignments four times in the past 1.5 years that he has worked here.  Talk about “service.”  Each time Matt leaves his home, his family and his job here and serves his country.  Each time Matt returns to his job here when his service is done and we welcome him back.  He is a respectful, loyal and hard working associate here. Always on time, always eager to serve and always dressed and groomed crisply. You can tell the military has taught him well!  A little too well though, since I cannot get him to stop calling me Mr. D’Amodio as opposed to Michael.  He makes me feel old.  : )

Matt recently informed me that his unit’s Commander has nominated our hotel as their unit’s Employer of the Year for always supporting Matt and holding his same job open for him until he returns. Of course it is nice to be nominated and win awards from the US Army, but it made me stop and think that Matt, and the hundreds of thousands of service men and women around the world, should be receiving an award and should be thanked! 

So, from all of us at the Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills, we want to wish all the Matts a heartfelt Thank You for their Service to our country!  I hope that all of you will do the same to anyone you know that is in the service or any family that has lost a loved one while serving our country.

Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Be well and more to come,

Michael D’Amodio