Sunday, July 21, 1996

Veterans fighting mad over lottery ad

By Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) - Veterans are fighting mad over the Texas Lottery's latest advertising campaign, accused of trivializing the nation's war heroes.

The Texas Lottery Commission has pulled the ad that compared Armed Forces Day with Kolache Day and National Meat Week.

"I considered it a personal affront and thought any veteran would consider it an affront, particularly those who served long years and more particularly those that were prisoners of war or wounded in action," said Thomas Jacobs of Austin.

To promote the lottery's Cash 5 game, a fictional couple in the radio ad list the holidays they celebrate - a series of low-priority red-letter days.

Jacobs, who retired after 37 years in the Navy, heard the radio spot this week while driving home from his monthly checkup at Wilford Hall military hospital in San Antonio.

He said he was surprised to hear Armed Forces Day in a list with "inane holidays."

So Jacobs, 60, established a multifront battle plan against the ad with calls to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gov. George W. Bush's office and state Rep. Patty Keel, R-Austin.

Steve Levine, a lottery spokesman in Austin, said the ad was pulled Friday "while we take a look at what we might be able to do about this particular script."

"We acknowledge that some organizations have had a problem with it. We certainly never intended to offend anyone," Levine said.

Jacobs said the ad, produced by Austin-based GSD&M, reflects a generational difference in attitudes about the military.

"To somebody who is 30 years old, Armed Forces Day may be the same as National Dry Cleaners Day. But to an awful lot of people who served the country and the flag that's certainly not the case," the veteran said.

Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May.

"It's not the Fourth of July, but to some people having Armed Forces Day thrown in with Groundhog Day is undignified," said Jacobs.