This Veteran’s Day, the 1906 Lodge is joining over 800 bed and breakfast inns nationwide by providing a free night to a local serviceman on November 10.
Owner Sue Gillingham was recently contacted by a Coronado navy wife, asking if the 1906 Lodge was participating in the BnB for Vets program. Gillingham researched it and decided it was a great way to honor a local military couple. The husband had just returned from deployment, plus they are celebrating their wedding anniversary.
“In the past we have donated nights to service members on the U.S.S. Reagan and U.S.S. Nimitz after deployments, and we always give discounts to active duty military, but I had never heard of this program,”
stated Gillingham.
Started in 2009 in West Virginia, the program spread on the east coast last year and nationwide in 2010. As noted on its website, “We just wanted to say thank you to the courageous men and women from our armed forces”, says Kathleen Panek, owner of the Gillum House in Shinnston, WV. “These are some trying times
for anyone serving or who has served and a good night’s rest is our way to say, thank you.”
For Gillingham, the timing of the request was particularly poignant. Her father, Frank Simmons, a Naval aviator in the 1950s, died on October 2. A smiling photo of Ensign Simmons in his dress whites was displayed at his memorial service. Two of the couples who own the 1906 Lodge are retired military. Sue’s husband, Dave Gillingham was a line officer, and owner Joe Jankiewicz served as a Navy physician.
Active duty, reserve, and retired military can receive discounts of up to $100 per night through November 23 at the 1906 Lodge. More information can be found on the hotel’s blog, www.1906Lodge.com/blog or by calling (619) 437-1900. For more information about the nationwide veterans program, see www.bnbsforvets.org.
The 1906 Lodge, located at 1060 Adella Avenue in Coronado, opened in May of 2009. It offers complimentary gourmet breakfast, afternoon wine and snacks, and underground parking as part of its rates, which start at only $179 per night. It is rated the #1 hotel in Coronado on Trip Advisor.
