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First things first – if you own property that is improved or if it is vacant land in Dare County or if you reside here via a residential lease agreement and you have yet to acquire a free Dare County Veteran Discount Card, please call or text me at 252-202-2058.

Dare County is INCREDIBLY supportive of our veterans and in May 2012 our Board of Commissioners established the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council. Not long after, the council created a means to bring veterans to the council to acknowledge you; thank you for your service and offer a free card that entitles a veteran to discounts at over 140 businesses on the Outer Banks from Corolla to Hatteras Village on Hatteras Island. There is NO charge for the card, and it is non-transferable, but it is a means (through the kindness and generosity of our business owners) to thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country. The veteran card holder is entitled to wonderful discounts.

Being a resident or owning property here is the first step to being eligible to acquire one, however we need to see the following as well:

• DD-214 showing honorable discharge.
• Valid driver’s license (not specifically N.C. issued license).
• Either a copy of your Dare County Property Tax Bill; a lease agreement with your name on it ora utility bill with your name on it.
• Your documents, driver’s license, lease or tax bills are not copied or kept; we only use them for review.
• Veterans who obtain this card are subject to discounts from 10%-15%-20% per the proprietors’ discretion at local Outer Banks eateries (note: alcoholic beverages are excluded from discount), retail shops, auto/marine parts and even some professional businesses.
• It is a durable plastic card much like a credit card and it is non-transferrable, only to be used by the veteran themselves.
• Veteran Discount Cards are individually numbered and the number is recorded

This card project was proudly initiated by the Veterans Advisory Council and fortunately embraced by our business owners to help our veterans who deserve so much. Signing up to offer our veterans a discount is generous and their way of saying, “Thank you!” We hope that once you have your card, you use it as often as you can and if you would like to  review the business establishments that offer discounts please find the list online at darenc.gov/Veterans – check it out folks, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Veterans Advisory Council Meetings – Veterans and family members – in fact anyone who would like to attend council meetings – are welcome! Our council meets every month on the fourth Tuesday (excluding December), the next being August 27, 2024 – 6 p.m. at the Dare County Administrative Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Rm 168, Manteo. (Basically, the middle building in the Dare County Courthouse complex and Rm. 168 is on the ground floor, first meeting room to the left – at the time of elections, we usually relocate temporarily upstairs in the same building with a convenient elevator!) Also, your attendance would give you a chance to meet impressive, committed, veteran council members and help you determine if there is an event or other activity you might want to volunteer for … no pressure at all but extra help is also appreciated!

You would also get the opportunity to meet Dare County veteran service officer Patty O’Sullivan! Patty is devoted to the good of our veterans and she is fully accredited by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs! If you should need a duplicate DD-214 because your original has been lost, etc., Patty can help you apply through the V.A. to get a replacement or help you do it yourself online if you choose. She is truly knowledgeable when it comes to veteran benefits, assistance with your filing a V.A. claim; V.A. Health Care and she is “go-getter.” Having collaborated with her on the council and through many veteran related events over the years I have found her to be extremely good at her profession, so please take the time to meet her if you have the chance. If you would like to contact her sooner than our next meeting, please call her office: 252-475-5604; her cell phone/text: 252-473-7749 or email: patricia.o’sullivan@darenc.gov. Patty’s office is located in Manteo at the Dare County Social Services building, 109 Exeter Street, where she can also issue your veteran discount card.

This column began in 2012 when I initially wrote about my husband Billy, my one true love and best friend. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and it quickly became a weekly column. It is an opinion column whereby I write often about his patriotic inspiration in my life, his love of country and of our American flag and our Constitution. I proudly admit I am a conservative, I write about happy times, hardships we face in life, PTSD, illness and challenges that challenge our joy … I also write about how prayer has helped me and my family through the hardest of times and the comfort of God’s word. Leaning on Him and asking Him to take the reins has been such a blessing that we all experience at times. Life is beautiful thing and those we love that love us back a such a blessing … and if you who take the time to read Gig Line you are also a blessing to me, too.

When my sweetie pie Billy died in 2016 from exposure to Agent Orange, it was God, family and friends that helped me keep my chin up and embrace the beautiful memories that fill my heart and soul daily. If you read my column often (Sunday weekly edition) you will read that I love you all … and I do. You, like me, are wonderfully made and a blessing to those around you. I am so far from perfect – never will be – but the love I have for our veterans is plain and simple, veterans and their families are my passion and my joy.

If you would ever want to call me just to chat, please do, at 252-202-2058. If you are a veteran and eligible for V.F.W. membership (having served in a war on foreign soil) I will brag all day about our Outer Banks V.F.W. Post 10950 especially and give you contact numbers for our American Legion Post 26; OBX Marine Corps League #1264; OBX V.F.W. Post 10950 Auxiliary; U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Blue Star Mothers – they are wonderful people. They do magnificent work on behalf of our local veterans and I am so proud of their dedication! With Veterans Week coming up as usual each November, there will be so much to do and participate in, so please stay in touch with Gig Line and on Facebook. Dare County loves our veterans and if you are new to Dare County, you will soon see that for yourself! There is so much to talk about and usually my columns are long … but also a good, inexpensive sleeping aid!

Until next time, be healthy, safe and happy! You are here in this world for a purpose, if you have not figured out exactly what that is, think and pray about it … there is no telling how much more you can add to your legacy one day doing good for others which in turn blesses you, too! Pray for all our servicemembers and their good health and safety. If they are deployed, pray they will come home unharmed. Thank you again for reading Gig Line and for just being YOU! I love you all and thank the good Lord for you. Stay tuned!

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