Dennis Baker: New license plate offered for the good of veterans
The Florida Veterans Foundation is here to set the record straight about Florida’s newest license plate featuring the Gadsden Flag.
In 2019, the Florida Legislature gave Floridians a way to help better meet the needs of Florida’s veterans through the passage of a new specialty license plate. The Gadsden Flag plate will raise funds for the Florida Veterans Foundation and give the nonprofit organization greater opportunities to serve the state's more than 1.5 million veterans in need and enhance their quality of life.
Regardless of your political affiliation, it should be noted that the Gadsden Flag was designed and flown by Continental Marines during the American Revolution. It symbolizes liberty — period. When it comes to raising funds for the good of veterans, the license plate symbolizes that effort.
The Florida Veterans Foundation is the direct support organization of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The funds garnered through the Gadsden Flag plate will help fight veteran suicide, homelessness and opioid addiction, while also providing transportation and emergency financial relief to veterans who have been impacted by job loss, homelessness or other issues caused by the pandemic.
The foundation also provides outreach to ensure veterans have access to their Aid and Attendance benefits, which helps keep aging veterans in their homes where they belong.
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Other projects of the Florida Veterans Foundation include outreach in the rural areas to meet the needs of veterans affected by past toxic exposures, along with educating veterans who seek relief from the Veterans Administration. This is done through disability compensation and/or subsidizing the veteran and their family from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Our state leaders are working hard to make Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the nation and we’re thankful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for leading this charge. With 1.5 million Florida veterans residing in our local communities, it will take resources to ensure these heroes continue getting the services they need and deserve.
The Gadsden Flag license plate is the fundraising vehicle that can make that happen with total transparency. As a Florida resident, it provides you a method to support those who defended our nation while also giving you a way to proudly say, “I support our state veterans,” when you display your plate.
Other states offer a similar Gadsden Flag license plate and the response has been very successful. This effort is not about political views. It’s about supporting an important cause and making an impact on the lives of those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. We can all be proud of that.
Whether it’s a loved one, a neighbor or a friend, you likely have a connection to a veteran. Honor their service, their memory and the memory of all those left behind by helping to support this important cause. The Florida Veterans Foundation and our state’s more than 1.5 million veterans will thank you.
To order, visit HelpFLVets.org/specialty-license-plate.
Cmdr. Dennis Baker, U.S. Navy (ret.), is chairman of the Florida Veterans Foundation.
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Dennis Baker: New license plate offered for the good of veterans
