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Politics & Government

Nassau Clerk Unites Veterans and Mineola Businesses

New initiative helps veterans claims benefits, discounts at local stores.

Members of American Legion Post #349 welcomed Deputy Nassau County Clerk Eileen O’Donnell to the Monday night to speak about the county’s veterans’ outreach program.

O’Donnell laid out County Clerk Maureen O’Connell’s vision of making it easier for veterans to receive benefits from Nassau.

“What Maureen started this year was an outreach program where we’re going around to the different Legions and VFW Posts throughout the county and we’re doing on site recording,” O’Donnell said.

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At each post O’Donnell helps set up a document scanner, which allows the veterans to scan their DD-214’s, or discharge papers, so it will be on file at the clerk’s office.

“The reason we do it is because we can issue then a certified copy of it, which is equivalent to your original,” she explained. “So should you have your original and you can’t find it or your family needs an original copy, it's recorded with our office.”

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Once the information is recorded, veterans are mailed two certified copies of their discharge papers. The copies are also invaluable for benefits such as veteran services and tax exemptions.

Another of the program’s perks is the Nassau Veteran Discount Program. Upon receipt of the documents, veterans received a discount card and a list of local businesses participating in the program.

“We have businesses throughout the county sign up to offer discounts to any veteran who records their papers with us,” O’Donnell said.

Over 100 businesses are participating throughout Nassau County and so far five of those businesses are located in Mineola.

Gary Katz of signed up just a few weeks ago after speaking with the County Clerk after a Chamber of Commerce meeting.

“After the meeting I addressed Maureen and asked her what we needed to do to become a member of that discount program,” Katz said, “and she was very good; she had people get back to me the next day with all the information. I filled out the forms and I sent them in and we were off and running.”

When filling out the paperwork, business owners must choose the amount and specifications or conditions of the discount. Once the paperwork is filed, the business is added to the list of stores available for discounts for the veterans.

While there is no direct benefit to signing up, business owners hope to bring in more customers through the outreach program.

“I think it’s a wonderful program,” Katz said. “The county is doing things to help the veterans and in many ways it helps the businesses because it brings in more people which we need these days in light of the economy and the way things are.”

For those members of Post #349, who did not have their discharge papers that night, they were instructed to submit it via mail in order to receive the discount card and their certified copies.

Any business interested in participating in the Nassau Veteran Discount Program can call the at 516-571-2660 for more information.

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