Letter to the Editor: Veteran discounts

BY Angeleque Woodstock, Glenpool
Sunday, October 28, 2012
10/28/12 at 4:57 AM

I am a veteran. Recently I volunteered to work on a Veterans Day project with Oklahoma American Veteran News.

I have learned, upon speaking with businesses that offer a "military discount," that many have been under the impression the discount automatically included all veterans.

However, when discharged from the military, servicemen and women turn in their military ID. Some vets can get an ID card issued upon retirement, or with a 100 percent disability rating from the Veterans Administration or for other reasons, but most veterans are not 100 percent disabled (service connected) and not eligible to get a military ID.

Thanks to state Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, beginning Nov. 1, with the required documents, veterans in Oklahoma can have their status placed on their driver's license, giving them proof of their service.

The new veterans' emblem on the driver's license provides businesses the opportunity to honor those who have served to protect our freedoms. I'd like to ask that businesses include veterans in their discount, not for my own personal gain as I am a 100 percent disabled veteran and my military ID allows me to get the discounts. My concern is for deserving veterans who have served our country yet fall through the cracks when well-meaning businesses aren't aware of the difference between "military discounts" and "veterans' discounts.".

My desire is that both veterans and businesses profit, as veterans feel welcomed and become new customers.

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