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By State Representative Sharon Libby Jones Maine Veterans now have the option of placing a decal on their veterans' license plate (the plate with the red 'V') that recognizes their contribution to a particular branch of the armed services; their participation in certain conflicts or their receipt of an award for bravery or valor. The Maine Legislature was approved during the last legislative session. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has these decals available and you can obtain any one of the decals at one of the 13 BMV branch offices. A task force established 22 decals for display with the veterans' plate. Five decals depict the seal of each branch of the armed services. Decals that represent ten individual awards for bravery, including the Bronze Star or higher, and seven campaign medals awarded for service in a hostile fire zone are also available. A veteran who already has veterans' plates may request the decals by bringing a copy of the DD 214 (report of separation or discharge from active duty) to verify eligibility. The decals may only be used with the veterans' license plate with the red 'V'. The decals have been designed to be placed over the red 'V'. Each set of decals is $2.00. This is an optional program and the current veterans' license plate with the red 'V' will still be valid without a decal. The available decals are as follows � Decals for the U.S. Armed Services � Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and the Navy. Decals for Acts of Bravery/Valor and Service in Hostile Fire Zones � Airman's Medal, Air Force Cross, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Bronze Star, Coast Guard Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Korea, Kosovo, Navy Cross, Navy Marine Medal, Silver Star, soldier's Medal, S.W. Asia, Vietnam, World War II Europe and World War II Pacific. For more information, please contact the Secretary of State's Registration Unit at 207-624-9000, Extension 52149 or on the Web at www.state.me.us/sos. |