Veterans Day: A Day of Honor, A Day to Honor

“Thank-A-Vet” Program Pays Tribute to Veterans Throughout Year

Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns

Veterans Day occurs every year on November 11th in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I, honoring the servicemen and women of all wars who have served our Nation and answered the call to defend it. The United States rose to greatness on the strength of their service and their stories are woven into the fabric of our Nation’s history.

Whether they served in times of war or peace, all veterans share a common bond, their belief in the cause of freedom. A belief so strong they are willing to give their lives, if need be, in its defense. We know them as our fathers and mothers, our family members, or perhaps our next door neighbors. Here in Erie County we have over 50,000 proud veterans who have displayed an extraordinary legacy of patriotism. Their service embodies the highest form of citizenship and love of country, all while risking their lives to protect us and our nation. As Americans, we all must take the time to honor and thank them for their unwavering service.

Every Veterans Day, Erie County holds a number of memorial services to honor these men and women for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice. I encourage all Erie County residents to take time to honor and celebrate the heroism and courage of our local veteran community by attending a veteran’s event in your community or by simply displaying an American flag outside your home throughout the month of November.

At the Erie County Clerk’s Office, we proudly pay tribute to our veterans 365 days a year through our “Thank-A-Vet” Discount Card Program. I would like to remind veterans if they have not already filed their honorable discharge papers and received the “Thank-A-Vet” discount card, to come in and do so. Presently, over 1,500 Erie County businesses, both large and small, have registered in the program to give valuable discounts on goods and services to our deserving veterans. We constantly add participating businesses to our program and I encourage any interested business owner to enlist and join us today in “thanking” our veteran community.

When a veteran place their discharge papers (DD214) on file with the Erie County Clerk’s Office, it safeguards the document and makes attaining their free certified copy quick and easy for the veteran and their loved ones. The “Thank-A-Vet” photo ID card is issued at no charge and our heroes walk away with a real benefit of potentially thousands of dollars in savings and local participating businesses benefit by assisting a veteran and earning the loyalty of a new or existing customer.

mentary “Thank-A-Vet” Discount Card, visit the Erie County Clerk’s Office located at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo or the Clerk’s Outreach Center, located next to the Auto Bureau in the Southgate Plaza, Monday– Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Veterans and business owners can learn more about the Clerk’s “Thank-A-Vet” Discount Card Program at erie.gov/clerk/thankavet or call 716-858-6787.