Media contacts:  
Emily Lundgard:  (216) 348-4395 or elundgard@cuyahogacounty.us

Veterans Appreciation Event to Honor Our United States Military Veterans

CLEVELAND – This Saturday, July 20th, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald will launch the new Veterans ID Card Program during an appreciation event in honor of our United States Military Veterans.  Veterans will be able to obtain the new Cuyahoga County Veterans ID Card free of charge on this day only. This event will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Administration Building, located at 1219 Ontario Street. Free event parking will be available in the Huntington Park Garage located directly across from the Cuyahoga County Administration Building.

Available to all discharged veterans except those who were dishonorably discharged, the card will serve as a document identification card, not a State ID card, and will contain the information found on a redacted DD214.  Veterans ID cards may be used to prove United States Veteran status, for veterans’ services, military discounts, etc. Veterans will be charged a $1.00 fee for the card after July 20, 2013, and the cards will expire four years from their issue date.

In order to obtain the card, all discharged veterans must provide a recorded DD214‐ Military Discharge Paper. DD214 forms can be accepted for filing from residents of any county or state at the Recording Division of the Fiscal Office. The DD214 is not a public record, per ORC 317.24. There is no charge to record or retrieve a copy of a DD214.

Veterans must also provide two forms of proper identification to verify their identity and address, in order to obtain the card.

• A current, valid photo ID. Acceptable forms of photo identification include:
  • Driver’s License from any state
  • State Identification Card from any state
  • Military Identification Card (current)
  • Any U.S. government-issued identification card
  • Passport
• One of the following:
  • Birth Certificate
  • Social Security Card
  • Employment Identification Card
  • Military Identification Card (can be expired)
  • Library Card
  • Checking Account
  • Utility bill
  • Proof of marriage, divorce, or other name change is required.

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald said of the program, "Veterans appreciation is not just a parade one or two days a year. It is making certain that when someone comes back from military service that they are really brought back into the mainstream of society. We cannot only say 'welcome back,' but also 'you're hired’ and ‘how can we help you with medical, career, and housing?’" Cuyahoga County is honored to have the opportunity to provide this much-needed service for our United States Military Veterans. 

For more information or questions, please contact Nina Hannum, Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office, Transfer & Recording Department, 216-443-7010.