Active members of the military will soon be eligible to apply for veterans’ licence plates for their vehicles, the province announced Monday.
Alberta began offering special plates to veterans in February 2005 and has so far issued 18,000 of them. The plates have a red poppy superimposed over a red maple leaf on the left and the word “veteran” at the bottom. They’ve been previously available to retired military members who had been honourably discharged, as well as members of the RCMP or other Canadian police departments who served under NATO or the United Nations.
As of Aug. 16, the distinction will be extended to active military members with at least three years of service. There is no extra cost for the plates.
“It’s just one way of acknowledging the tremendous contribution of our armed forces,” said Premier Ed Stelmach.
Members of the military, both past and present, reacted favourably to the change.
“I like it,” said Master Cpl. Michael Mroch, 30. “It’s nice to have the province show their support for the Canadian forces.”
He plans to get one of the plates for his vehicle. He views it as a symbol of two-way gratitude.
“It’s kind of like my way of saying thank you for all the supports that I have received throughout all the years,” he said.
Daryl Bonar, a 31-year-old second lieutenant working as a community relations officer, plans to get a plate and thinks many other area soldiers will do the same.
“The members are very proud of their service and the fact that it’s being recognized is very much appreciated,” he said.
Veterans at the St. Albert Legion liked the idea of making the plates available to serving members.
“I would tend to think it’s due to them,” said Chris Smith, 73, a veteran of the Cold War era who has a veteran’s plate.
The plates are an icebreaker that often lead to reminiscing with other veterans and sometimes generate interaction with civilians, said veteran Bill Dickson, 71.
“It’s an immediate camaraderie,” he said.
He thinks it’s a good idea to allow active members to have the plates.
“A member of the Canadian Forces today, whether it be land, sea or air, is ultimately going to be a veteran, and the majority of these people have been in a combat zone,” he said. “Certainly they deserve the recognition of a veteran.”
