Purple Heart Veterans To Receive Free City Stickers
Purple Heart Veterans can never really ever be thanked enough.
But the City of Chicago is going to try to pass on a little appreciation to these brave men and women in the form of free city stickers.
Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza along with Aldermen Timothy Cullerton and James Balcer co-sponsored legislation to make this token of thanks a reality on Wednesday.
The Purple Heart is awarded to U.S. military who have been wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. Military. Disabled veterans and former prisoners of war already are eligible for free city stickers.
“There are approximately 300 vehicles licensed to Purple Heart recipients in Chicago,” said City Clerk Mendoza. “These are military personnel who put their lives on the line for us during times of war and were put in great danger. It only makes sense for them to receive a free city vehicle sticker, just as our disabled veterans and POW veterans currently do.”
This new piece of legislation also codifies a long-standing practice of the City Clerk’s Office to waive late fees for returning military personnel. Any U.S. Armed Forces personnel stationed outside of the City at the time of the city vehicle sticker purchase deadline of July 15, will have 30 days when they return home to purchase their city sticker before incurring a late fee. However, these returning military will need to provide sufficient proof of deployment, such as military orders, to receive the fee waiver.
“I am proud to co-sponsor this ordinance with City Clerk Susana Mendoza and Alderman James Balcer, himself a highly decorated Purple Heart Veteran, as a sign of our city’s recognition and thanks to the brave men and women of Chicago who served selflessly in our Armed Forces and who were wounded in battle while serving our country, defending our freedoms,” said Alderman Cullerton.
The legislation is expected to have a financial impact of approximately $30,000 to $40,000 in vehicle sticker fee waivers for Purple Heart recipients.
I returned from Afghanistan in August of 2009, When I went to purchase a city sticker the lady behind the counter told me that I also had to pay a late fee. I told her that I had just returned from Afghanistan, and she could give a crap of what I told her. This was at the City of Chicago office near Addison and Western. Nonetheless, I paid the fine because I just could not believe that the City would charge a late fee to a combat veteran, and I just did not want to deal with the headache.
Orlando,
First, thank you for your service to our country. Words cannot express me and my family’s gratitude for your service.
Second, obviously the person who helped you is a dumbass. From my understanding, previous to the legislation introduced above, there was an unspoken policy that deployed military were cut a break. It sounds like this was just someone who didn’t know the drill or was too mean spirited to try to do something to help you out. LAME!
It looks like, moving forward, military personnel in this situation will legally be cut a break.
Orlando, although it might be a bit late (since it was over 2 years ago), I would have called into the Clerk’s office downtown and asked to talk to a supervisor afterwards. They’ll be able to see the late fee paid in the computer and should be able to refund it for you.
It sounds like a nice gesture, but we do NOT want to start down the very slippery slope of deciding who gets free city stickers. Next thing you know, aldercreatures will slip something into a bill saying they and their families get free stickers. Where will it end?
I’m a city of chicago civilian employee that served in Afghanistan in 2008 to 2009 I was injured in Afghanistan now I’m permanent disable with walking around and other injuries.I could find on how Disable Veterans can apply or what form I need for a city sticker