Atlantic County Clerk Ed McGettigan today announced a new program in conjunction with Atlantic County veterans’ organizations which will provide area veterans with the opportunity to receive discounts at a host of retail stores.

 The Clerk explained that his office issues photo ID Cards to veterans who present their DD214 discharge form to his office which are scanned for collective records preservation.   Providing photo ID cards is just one of the many functions of the County Clerk’s Office.  As an added benefit agreements have now been reached with many area retail stores, restaurants and even cell phone providers to provide the veteran discounts.  Some of those establishments include Lowe’s, Home Depot, Payless Shoes, GNC, and Michael’s.  Restaurants such as Denny’s, Burger King and Pizza Hut have also joined the program.   Service providers such as AT & T, Geico, and even Sears Portrait Studio are also on the list.  A complete list of participants is available at the County Clerk’s website, http://www.atlanticcountyclerk.org/.

 McGettigan said that most of the discounts range from 10 percent to 15 and even 20 percent in some cases.  McGettigan added that he will be approaching retail establishments not yet on the list to give them an opportunity to participate.

“I can’t imagine any business in Atlantic County not wanting to be associated with this effort for our servicemen and women who have given so much,” he said.  “It’s just good business.  There are an estimated 45,000 veterans in Atlantic County.” 

 “This is a very exciting program,” McGettigan added.  “It’s not often we have the opportunity to do something as tangible as this for our service men and women and their families.”

 Commanders of all veterans organizations in Atlantic County, including VFW’s, American Legions, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Veterans of America, have been active in this program, reaching out to their members  and other veterans to inform them about the program.  The Clerk’s Office also participates in veteran’s outreach programs with these organizations to issue the ID Cards to as many veterans as possible. 

 “The outreach program to veterans’ groups has been an ongoing priority of the Clerk’s Office,” McGettigan said, “We take the office services right out to their locations and process their photo ID cards on site.” 

 McGettigan also indicated that senior members of his staff who are working with the program are also veterans.  Art Lucchesi, Deputy County Clerk, is a Vietnam era Marine veteran and John Piatt, Management Specialist, is an Army Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

The Atlantic County Clerk’s Office will be issuing veteran ID cards at its main office in Mays Landing during normal business hours, 8:30 am to 4:15 pm on weekdays except for Mondays and Wednesdays when the Mays Landing office remains open until 5:45 pm.  The service will also be available at the Clerk’s satellite office operations at both Shore Mall and Hamilton Mall on Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturdays between 10 am and 2 pm. 

The Clerk’s webpage will compliment the program by offering a “Veterans Corner” which will contain important links for veterans as well as current veteran news and updates on the veterans ID Card program.