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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

Thank a vet.

Businesses across Davie County are doing just that, and residents are encouraged to show their support by illuminating their front porches or doors with green lights during November.

The kick off for the effort begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Register of Deeds office in the county administration building in Downtown Mocksville, where there will be free breakfast items for veterans and guests.

The veterans should bring their DD214 forms for registering at the deeds office. It could not only help their families at their passing, it will give them more than 75 discounts from Davie businesses.

Register of Deeds Kelly Funderburk came up with the idea while trying to find ways to better serve the community. Veterans Service Officer Megan Tomlin came aboard, and the program got off the ground.

The DD214, Tomlin said, is the most important document a veteran can register.

“Megan and I know, that when veterans pass away, the families are struggling and they’re tyring to find the paper work,” Funderburk told county commissioners earlier this month. “I’ve had people call … crying because they can’t find the DD214 form.

“Those are essential documents that give that deceased veteran the ability to be buried with VA benefits,” she said. “It allows them to be put on the permanent record and it really helps the families in their time of need.”

She noticed the problem because only a few veterans in the past several years had filed the forms. Offering an incentive could help, she said.

“This is a free thing where they can come in and record their forms here in our office. It’s a win-win for the veteran because they know that the county supports them … and they get a lot of freebies.”

County buildings will be illuminated green in November as part of Operation Green Light, and residents can participate by also displaying green lights at the front of their homes. Lights can be purchased at Caudell Lumber in Mocksville, Cooleemee Hardware and Steelman’s Ace Hardware in Bermuda Run.