County offering new veterans’ ID cards

VW independent/submitted information

The Van Wert County Veterans Office and Recorder’s Office have announced they will start issuing veterans’ ID cards to county veterans. Veteran Service Officer Barry johns and County Recorder Kim Hughes said ID cards will be issued by appointment only, beginning August 4, on Mondays, 8:30 a.m. until noon; Wednesdays, 1-3:30 p.m.; and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. until noon. To set up an appointment, call 419.238.9592.

To be eligible, veterans must be current Van Wert County residents, have a Form DD-214 recorded at the Recorder’s Office, must have been on active duty for reasons other than training purposes, must have served in one of the five branches of military service (Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard; Merchant Marines qualify with a DD-214), must have an original or certified copy of a discharge for honorable, general or “under honorable” conditions (absolutely no other charge of service will be accepted). If an original or certified copy of the discharge isn’t available, one will be applied for, but an ID card will not be issued until the discharge is received.

Honorable service with minimum time is, prior to September 1, 1980, 90 days of service, of which one day must be during a recognized period of war (if not during a recognized period of war, 180 days is minimum service time). After September 1, 1980, the service requirement is 24 months or the period for which the veteran was called to active duty.

Exceptions to length of service may be for those discharged for the convenience of the government, pregnancy, hardship and other situations beyond the control of the veteran. Entry-level discharges, regardless of the character of discharge, do not qualify. The Veterans Commission must approve any questionable discharges outside the guidelines to receive an ID card.

There is a $1 fee for each card.

Here in Van Wert County, the following businesses offer discounts to veterans who receive the ID card: Ace Hardware, Angela’s Grooming & Doggie Spa, Black Angus Catering, Black Swamp Bistro, Crescent Laundry, Dilly Door, Greve Chrysler, Hall’s Custom Meats, Hickory Sticks Golf Club, Jackie’s Furry Friend Pet Grooming, Dr. Kevin Laing DDS, Mi Ranchito, Dr. Roger Okuley DDS, Olympic Lanes, Once I Was, O’Reilly Auto Parts, P&R Medical Connection, Peebles, Quick Change Oil & Lube, Rainey Chiropractic, Remedy Sports Bar & Grille, Scott Variety Store, Secret Garden, Simply Irresistible, Sophisti-Cut Styling Salon, The Tavern, Van Wert Massotherapy, Van Wert Memorials, and Wilkinson’s Printing.

A brochure listing businesses that provide a discount — and the amount of the discount — will be given to veterans receiving the ID card. Other businesses wanting to join the program should call 419.238.9592 by July 18 to be on the brochure.