Veterans in Kentucky

As of May 2009, there were approximately 344,000 veterans in Kentucky.  Of those:

• 28,600 served during World War II
• 38,400 served during the Korean War
• 115,300 served during the Vietnam War
• 84,800 served during the Gulf War
• 86,800 served during peacetime

Many businesses and organizations are kind enough to offer discounts to veterans and/or members of the military.

KDVA thanks these businesses and organizations for honoring and helping veterans this way.

We wish to make clear, however, that most veterans do not carry official ID cards identifying them as veterans.

There is, in fact, no such thing as an official veteran ID card.  Members of the active-duty military and veterans who retired from the military have official ID, but most veterans do not.

If your business or organization requires identification for veterans to receive a discount, KDVA strongly urges you to accept a copy of the veteran's discharge document, or DD-214. This verifies the veteran's service and is sufficient proof of veteran status. You may also accept a VA healthcare card, which also verifies veteran status, or a membership card for a Veterans Service Organization like VFW, AMVETS, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and others.