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Many of our local veterans know about the Dare County Veteran Discount Card that is issued solely by the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council. But just in case you either haven’t acquired one yet, it’s a free card like a credit card (hard plastic) that myself and our Dare County Veteran Service Officer (V.S.O.), Patty O’Sullivan can provide to you with the following stipulations:

1. As a veteran, you are asked to call either one of us to set a meeting time (mask and social distancing required) at the following phone numbers:

My (Marsha) cell number: (252) 202-2058

Patty’s office number: (252) 475-5604 – if/when you call Patty, please leave a detailed message with your name and a phone # (or two) so she can call you back but please be sure it’s a number that is not full prohibiting her from leaving a return call/message. She is devoted to all veterans and it could appear that she hasn’t returned a call even when she has because your voicemail was not set up or is too full to accept one. Also, please keep in mind that Patty is the only official V.A. representative in Dare County who can review your military record, assist you in filing a claim and request a copy of your DD-214 in the event you cannot locate it (you can also go online yourself and request a duplicate as well at www.VA.gov/forms, however since Covid-19, the V.A. archives has been closed for the most part, so please be patient. Patty also has an email you may want to contact her through as well: dcvac@darenc.com;

2. First, we need to see your DD-214 so we can verify your military discharge was under honorable conditions;
3. We also need to see your driver’s license (it doesn’t have to be a North Carolina license) or another form of official picture I.D.;
4. You must either reside in Dare County or own property in Dare County whether it be vacant (unimproved) or improved (house, business, etc.). If you are a long-term tenant and lease your residence, please bring a copy of your lease or a local utility bill with your name on it or/and as a property  owner please bring a copy of your property tax bill. The beauty of the card is that you can use it for purchases of good and services from Hatteras Island to Corolla and at least one business in Currituck County (Ace Hardware).

These cards enable you to receive discounts at nearly 100 businesses encompassing everything from auto/marine parts, hardware, decorative items, restaurants, gift shops, etc. and equal to anywhere from 10% – 15% – 20% off your bill when you check out at the register. The card is a means for our many local businesses to say “Thank You” for the sacrifice you have made for our country and to demonstrate that Dare County loves our veterans and that you are all heroes to us.

Additional notes regarding the card: it is non transferrable, so no one other than the veteran it was issued to can use it; the card is numbered and recorded when it is assigned to you.

Veterans from other counties who have seen, heard or read about the card that our Veterans Council created have sometimes asked about acquiring one also, however, it is specifically for the benefit of veterans who reside full time, lease or own property and pay taxes in Dare County.

As a council who promotes, honors and seeks ways in which to help veterans by referring them (you) to dedicated resources, the council is also willing to share information to other counties/areas to help them to establish a means to further support and celebrate their veterans as well.

Many Dare County events have been canceled this year due to COVID, however, hopefully Dare Day (the first Saturday in June) and the OBX Seafood Festival (October) will be able to operate depending on COVID restrictions closer to their time frame. Please keep checking Gig Line, the Outer Banks Visitor Bureau website, and The Coastland Times newspaper/online as those schedules draw closer. If the events can take place, the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council will have a booth where veterans can pick up magazines and other items relative to our military men and women. If we are able to be there, we’d love to see you!

In the meantime, let me say that in the next Sunday edition of The Coastland Times, Gig Line will address a major topic that I think needs to be written and read, so please look for it.

Remember to call Patty or myself about getting your discount card, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Until next time, be happy, be safe and be proud. Our veterans make us feel that way every day because they are awesome without exception! God loves you and so do I. Thank you for reading Gig Line and by all means, stay tuned!

FOR MORE COLUMNS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CHECK OUT OUR OPINION SECTION HERE.