October 19, 2007:  As Veterans Day approaches and our country prepares to commemorate the valor and service of United States military men and women, Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni reminds veterans residing in Westchester County that they can file their military discharge papers with his office for safe-keeping.

"Military papers can get damaged or lost so veterans should take advantage of the opportunity to secure copies of their DD-214 discharge papers at my office, free of charge," said Idoni, whose office maintains and preserves official documents and records for Westchester County.   "And, if a copy is ever needed, the veteran, an immediate family member, or a representative of their estate, can get a certified copy from my office upon request."

It takes only a few minutes to file a copy of DD-214 military discharge papers at the Office of the Westchester County Clerk.  Veterans should first bring the original to the Legal Department at the County Clerk's office, which they can reach by entering through the Richard J. Daronco Courthouse at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., in White Plains.  There, a copy is made, then sealed to protect and preserve your privacy, filed, and the original returned to you before you leave our office. "You can rest assured that sealed copies of these important papers certifying your service to our country are safe, secure, and readily available, free of charge, if a copy is needed in the future," said Idoni.

The staff at the Office of the Westchester County Clerk is available to assist veterans if they have any questions by calling 995-3080. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. You can also explore our website, www.westchesterclerk.com, for more information.