SOMERS POINT — The Support Our Troops Club at Mainland Regional High School likes to bring attention to military veterans and the sacrifices they have made for the country.
That’s why its members are leading the charge to convince state officials to approve a special license plate available to all veterans, regardless of branch, affiliation or combat service.
While New Jersey offers 14 plates for veterans, such as for Purple Heart recipients, POWs and Gold Star families, not one is meant to acknowledge all veterans, leaving out hundred of thousands of service members.
Adviser Chris Mozitis said the club has been soliciting support locally, having already received resolutions from Linwood and Northfield when it approached Somers Point City Council on June 13.
“We were were brainstorming ideas and looked at veterans license plates,” Mozitis said. “New Jersey is the only state out of 50 that does not have a dedicated license plate for all veterans.”
He said so far everybody loves the idea and that with local support and the backing of state Sen. Vince Polistina and Assembly members Don Guardian and Claire Swift, it has a strong likelihood of getting support and approved at the state level.
Club members are Maddie Blanche, Olivia Carlton, Ben Conner, Dorian Cottee, Colleen Fahy, Fin Fiore, Macie Gannon, Andrew Gebhard, Trevor Hackett, Patrick Hiltner, Emmett Lee, Mark Marrone, Joan (John) Nieto, Audrey Seals, Carson Thomas, Maddie Turon, club president Robert (Joe) Wilkinson, Lily Wineland and Jason Yard.
Lee, the club’s second vice president, and Carlton spoke, while Fiore, Hackett and Yard held up sample plates during the presentation.
“I personally, as a veteran, have a lot of respect for the patriotism that the public and city of Somers Point shows,” Mozitis said. “Somers Point seems to always lead the way in support.”
Lee said that when researching, they found New Jersey is the only state without a general veterans license plate.
“We were surprised to find out that while one state had about 100 license plates for veterans, New Jersey did not have a dedicated license plate just for veterans. Every other state had at least one,” Lee said.
He said about 338,000 veterans live in New Jersey, meaning thousands could be left out without a general veterans plate.
“We feel like it’s important for veterans to have a way to display that they have committed acts of bravery and sacrifice for their country. We feel like having a plate approved specifically for them, they would really appreciate that,” Lee said.
“Our design plan was to keep things simple but instantly recognizable in symbolism,” Carlton said.
Pointing to the different designs, she said the group placed the country’s flag in each design. One image from World War II includes soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi, which she called “instantly recognizable as to the grit, sacrifice, blood, sweat, perseverance, spirit and determination of all America’s soldiers.”
At the bottom of each plate is the word “veteran.”
City Council liked the idea and pledged its support through a resolution.
“The Support Our Troops Club has undertaken the commendable initiative of the New Jersey license plate project, aiming to design a standalone veterans license plate to honor and recognize the sacrifices endured by military personnel,” it states. “The mayor and City Council of Somers Point extend our wholehearted support to Mainland Regional High School’s Support Our Troops Club and their efforts.”
“I just want to show my appreciation to the club,” Mayor Dennis Tapp said. “I know that the veterans of Somers Point, it’s very important to us that we support them, and the fact that the DMV does not have the ability to show that there’s a difference from someone who is a veteran who might not have served in a foreign war or been wounded, yet they still have that veteran status and we should be able to show them how much we support them.” He noted it’s refreshing to see members of the younger generation getting involved.
“I have always had a high regard for our veterans and those who have chosen to serve their country,” Councilman Sean McGuigan said. “We can’t thank enough the veterans. For you young people to step forward and help continue to build on that recognition that is so desperately required is very admirable and I thank you for doing that.”
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– Photos courtesy of Dan Myers/Special to the Sentinel