-- A Walmart worker in Wisconsin claims she was punished on Veterans Day for wearing a Marines T-shirt.But the corporation disputes the allegation, saying it was all a big misunderstanding.
Charyl Effle's son, Sgt. Aaron Nelson was a Marine deployed in Iraq for more than a year. During that time, Effle worked where she still does, a Walmart in Mount Pleasant.
"He would call me at work. I told everybody, Iraq calls, I'm there. Haha," she said of her son while laughing.
Effle, an employee of 12 years, said what happened to her on Veterans Day at the store is no laughing matter.
The assistant manager, Terry, came up to me and said you are not in work apparel -- you need to go home (sniff)," Effle explained.
Fighting back tears and clasping a picture of Aaron the entire time, Effle said she was sent home five hours into her shift for wearing a black Marine T-shirt under her blue uniform. "They really took me by surprise and I just, I'm in shock."
In a statement, a corporate Walmart spokesman said the associate manager simply approached Effle about a dress code violation.
In a statement, Walmart said: "Our management never asked our associate to leave their shift, we were merely attempting to engage in a conversation that apparently led to some miscommunication."
Another Walmart employee wouldn't go on camera but backed up the spokesman's version of events.
Effle sticks to her story that she was told to leave and said this isn't about her, it's about her Marine. "To be able to honor him is what I should be able to do as an American; he stood up for me I should be able to stand up for him," she said.
