Poughkeepsie…  One year ago Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall presented Poughkeepsie resident and community leader John Flowers with the first Dutchess County FAVOR (Find and Assist a Veteran of Record) ID card.  Earlier in the day, Greg Letterii, owner of Café Primavera on Market Street in Poughkeepsie, became the first business owner to sign up with the County Clerk’s Office to offer a discount to US Veterans.  To date, nearly 2000 veterans have received their ID cards and more than 125 businesses throughout Dutchess County offer a discount to veterans.

Dutchess County Clerk Brad Kendall stated, “The FAVOR program continues to be a success.  Every day veterans of all ages, representing all branches of the military, and each proud of their service, come to our office to obtain the FAVOR card.”

Clerk Kendall continued, “By partnering with the Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services and local businesses, this program is beneficial to so many.  Veterans are being honored for their service and learning of the many benefits that they are entitled to as a US Veteran.  Additionally, locally owned businesses both large and small are promoted.  It’s truly a win-win situation.”

Director of Dutchess County’s Division of Veterans Services, Nelson Eddy Rivera USN (Ret.) stated, “The FAVOR Program is recognition for our veterans and helps lessen some of the economic burden they may be facing.  Many of the veterans that have received their FAVOR Card have also benefited from an array of Department of Veterans Affairs services and other benefits that they have earned and were not either aware of or how to obtain them i.e. medical benefits, Disability Compensation, Pension, Home Loan and Property Tax Exemption,  just to name a few.”

Director Rivera added, “Since the inception of FAVOR, we have had approximately 680 new veterans visit our office and learn of the various programs and benefits that they have earned by their service to our nation.”

As part of the "RETURN THE FAVOR" Discount Program, the County Clerk’s office issues eligible county residents an I.D. card, identifying them as a qualified and honorably discharged veteran who served actively in the US military (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard  and or Merchant Marine) and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.

Reservists and National Guard also qualify if they were called to active duty (other than for training only) by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty. Any honorably discharged veteran residing in Dutchess County may obtain their FAVOR card by bringing his or her Military Separation Papers i.e. DD-214, WDO-AGO 53-55, etc., indicating their Full-Time Active Duty service to the Division of Veterans Services Office, located at 22 Market Street in Poughkeepsie between 9am and 4pm. After processing they will be able to obtain their official card at the County Clerk’s Office.