Veterans Identification Program (VIP) Petition
January 26, 2008
My name is Sylvester Ryan, Sergeant First Class, United States Army (Retired) and President, Sky Rise, LLC. I served on active duty in the U.S. Army from Oct 1984 – Mar 2005.
I am petitioning my local Representative, Governor, Congress, and the President of the United States to enact a bill providing all military veterans past and present with a means of identification to receive discounts and benefits offered by corporate and community organizations.
There are thousands of veterans who served their country without a Military ID Card because their completed service was less than the minimum number of years required for retirement and official military identification. We are overlooking a large group of veterans with honorable discharges who did not retire or receive a medical discharge and are unable to take advantage of any military discounts for lack of easy identification.
At a meeting on 19 October 2007 in Plymouth, Massachusetts the committee for The Reunion Network met to plan a reception for Military Tour Planners. I expressed my concerns for shorter-term veterans to the business owners and hotel representatives present. Many of them offer military or veterans discounts. Hotel chains are also mandated to offer military or government discount in Massachusetts. However there is some uncertainty about what constitutes veteran status. I explained there are many categories of military service members and several types of military veterans such as active duty, National Guard, Reservists, medically discharged and retirees. I noted that most who served during peace and war in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Granada, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan are not issued a military identification card.
Although all military personnel leave with a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD 214) most do not carry that document around with them.
Concept
I thought of a way to identify veterans without their having to carry their DD 214 and not cost additional government spending. Almost every one of these veterans has a drivers license or other state identification card. Having the Registry of Motor Vehicles in each state place an indicator onto that existing document at renewal would be cost effective and easily implemented nationally. The DMV could add a “V” for Veteran or other code like some states add “M” for motorcycle.
Benefit
- Provide convenient identification to benefit all veterans
- Create national veterans awareness
- Identify veterans upon their death for military burial
- Give those who served a sense of belonging to their military family as well as a sense of respect
- Implement at low cost to government
- Assist in identifying eligibility for VA Home Loans and benefits
- Assist states and counties with census information for Veterans' Administration and towns looking to support VA Hospitals or annexes in their area
Implementation
When an individual processes out of the military with a properly annotated DD 214 they can bring it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles as proof of honorable service and discharge. They can at their option have a V-Veteran affixed to their driver’s license requiring only a simple software change.
My VIP petition is under review by Rep. Vinny deMacedo of the first Plymouth district who is working with the chairman of the Boston Office of Veterans' Affairs to facilitate implementation through the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
To support this petition contact:
MA State Rep: Vinny deMacedo Email: vinny.demacedo@state.ma.us
Petitioner: Sylvester Ryan: Email: sryan@skyrisellc.com Ref: VIP
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