Bedfordtimesregister.com - Veteran's Beat: License plates, other freebies offered to qualified veterans

by Ron Seman

While perusing the Web, I recently ran across some lesser-known facts about the Ohio Department of Veterans Services in Columbus and some state-offered veterans benefits.

The office (on the Web at http://dvs.ohio.gov) was created during the administration of Gov. George Voinovich. I had a part in suggesting to Voinovich that he establish the office when he was mayor of Cleveland. Later I joined his staff in the Cleveland office, where I wrote resolutions and represented him at veterans programs and activities in Northeast Ohio from September 1991 to March 1997.

Besides maintaining military discharges and DD214 forms, the department also oversees the operations and personal training of Ohio's 88 County Veteran Service Officers. Telephone numbers and addresses for the CVSO can be found on the Web site or in your telephone book under "County Services."

I also learned that a number of state veterans organizations are involved with the distribution of auto license plates -- some free of charge for certain disabled veterans and former prisoners of war. Other plates are available at a charge for veterans who served in-country for Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada and the Persian Gulf, as well as veterans who served during World War I and II, Purple Heart recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors, Ohio National Guard, Marine Corps League and Reservists from any branch.

Contact the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Attention: Gratis Dept.), P.O. Box 16521, Columbus, OH 43266-0021, or phone 614-752-7518.

Qualified veterans also can obtain a free hunting and fishing license. Contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (Attention: Free License Section), 2045 Morse Road, Columbus, OH 43229, or phone 614-265- 6300 or 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Or how about a free boating license? Contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft, 4435 Fountain Square Drive, Building A, Columbus, OH 43224-1300, or phone 1-800-448-2030.

Contact your local County Veterans Service Officer for information on benefits and services that may be available at the local level as well.

WOMEN VETS: Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown announced in a news release March 18 that bi-partisan legislation introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), a senior member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, is designed to prepare the Department of Veterans Affairs for the anticipated influx of women veterans who will access care there in the coming years.

For detailed information on the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009, visit Brown's Web site at http://brown.senate.gov and click "For Veterans."

CORRECTION: In last week's column, I noted that the late Julius Csontos was a member of AMVETS Post 80 in Maple Heights; he was not. His only veteran affiliations were with DAV Post 125, Maple Heights, and VFW Twinsburg Post 4929.

And, Ellie Csontos tells me, Louise Jackson is the lady who makes Post 4929 and Auxiliary's Brecksville VA hospital treats run so well.

ARLINGTON: A new wall to entomb cremated remains has been built at Arlington National Cemetery. It is 6 feet high, half a mile long and will contain 6,500 remains. Surprisingly, the VA report stated that 62 percent of funerals in the cemetery involve cremations. This move will allow burials to continue on through 2060. Currently 340,000 Americans are buried there.

INFO: Send news items about your post and auxiliary elections, awards and food events to SemanRJ@aol.com.

REMEMBER our men and women serving America in Iraq and Afghanistan and at other stations around the world. Write a letter, send a package of goodies, and tell your serviceman or woman that you support them in the vital work they are performing for world peace. God Bless our troops, and God Bless America!