Column by Senator Defrancisco: Honoring Our Veterans

As we mark this Veterans Day, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of our veterans, who have honorably served this proud State and Nation. Your invaluable sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.

Through my role as a New York State Senator, and a veteran of the United States Air Force, I have done all I can to serve our soldiers and veterans. Recently, a bill that I supported to improve the identification process for veterans, was signed into law by Governor Cuomo. This new state law will now make it easier for former service men and women to identify themselves as veterans, by providing them with a separate indicator line, or mark, on their New York State Drivers License or non-driver ID.

Veterans who submit the proper paperwork, such as a DD Form 214, will be able to designate on their license that they are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. Under this law, applicants must prove they were honorably discharged from the military, in order to obtain veteran status from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The law will take effect in one year. In the meantime, the DMV will revise its application forms and make other accommodations to handle requests.

As a result of this law, New York State veterans will be able to carry fewer forms of identification, and they will have easier access to the various benefits and services that many local establishments offer to them. It was an honor to support this law and to provide our veterans with the recognition they fittingly deserve. For more information, please feel free to contact my district office at 315-428-7632.

I hope you will join me this Veterans Day in honoring all of the brave service men and women, who have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.