Wednesday, March 14, 2007
“Vet” on Drivers License
Not only is Crystal Lake’s John Blanchard the driving force behind last October’sand this March’s homeless veteran Stand Downs that have been held at Camp Algonquin, 
but he is also heading up a petition campaign to convince the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office to include the designation “VET” on drivers’ licenses.
The purpose of putting the word “VET” right next to the photo is explained on top of the petition.
Its summary and explanation says,
Although it will be up to each veteran to present his discharge papers, once entered onto the system, service providers will have a data base which most certainly does not exist now.
So far, over 100,000 signatures have been collected.
Blanchard runs the National Association of Systems Administrators, headquartered in Crystal Lake. It keeps computer hardware running at locations across the country.
Besides the Stand Downs and the petition drive, Blanchard also assisted with and spoke at the Million Veterans’ March on Washington a year ago April.
If you look really hard at the Georgia driver's license above, you can see the word "VET" in the lower center. The identifying information has been removed.
but he is also heading up a petition campaign to convince the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office to include the designation “VET” on drivers’ licenses.The purpose of putting the word “VET” right next to the photo is explained on top of the petition.
Its summary and explanation says,
Identify veterans on Illinois’ Driver’s license(1) to honor all Illinois veterans with a valid dd-214 who was discharged with other than dishonorable discharge no matter when or how long they served;
(2) to further facilitate the dissemination of veteran benefits by federal, state and county veteran organizations;
(3) so that demographic information may be retained for the purpose of funding, granting and potentially increasing veteran benefits.
Although it will be up to each veteran to present his discharge papers, once entered onto the system, service providers will have a data base which most certainly does not exist now.So far, over 100,000 signatures have been collected.
Blanchard runs the National Association of Systems Administrators, headquartered in Crystal Lake. It keeps computer hardware running at locations across the country.Besides the Stand Downs and the petition drive, Blanchard also assisted with and spoke at the Million Veterans’ March on Washington a year ago April.
If you look really hard at the Georgia driver's license above, you can see the word "VET" in the lower center. The identifying information has been removed.
Labels: John Blanchard, NASA Educational Foundation, Veterans
