Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced today that new service branch-specific license plates are available for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marines. The new custom plates, made available for the first time in New York, join a number of others offered in the Veteran and Military series, including the Purple Heart Recipient, Vietnam Veteran and War on Terror Veteran license plates. The more than 770,000 veterans who call New York home will now be able to represent their branch of service on their license plates. Images of the new license plates are available here.

The branch specific plates are the newest offering in the Military and Veteran series of license plates. In order to purchase a custom plate, New Yorkers are required to validate their military service with a copy of their discharge papers (DD-214 or equivalent documentation) and mail a copy with a completed application, found here.

New York State has a long history of veterans distinguishing themselves through military service, dating back to the American Revolution in 1775 through the present day. New York was the first state to officially name its state militia the National Guard in 1862, and in 1903, the Dick Act required all states to follow suit and also call their militia the National Guard. Decades later, Congress changed a law barring women from serving in the Guard, and just two days after the law passed, the first woman to join the National Guard was a member of the New York National Guard's 106th Tactical Hospital in 1956.

The launch of these new plates supports Governor Cuomo’s commitment to create opportunities to honor and acknowledge men and women of service. The license plates offer New York veterans the opportunity to proudly display their branch of service and celebrate their dedication to protecting New York State. To learn more about these and other military plates that are currently offered, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles’ website.