ADOT remembers Pearl Harbor and recognizes Arizona veterans

PHOENIX – As part of our commitment to service and public safety, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division joins with the country to remember the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and to recognize the efforts of our active duty and veteran members of the United States military. In fact, ADOT provides a host of year-round services to support Arizona’s veterans.

The MVD offers a variety of specialty license plates specific to military service. The Pearl Harbor Survivor plate is issued to an armed forces member — or a qualifying family member of the veteran — who served at Pearl Harbor during the attack that occurred between 7:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941.

Other specialty license plates include: the Congressional Medal of Honor, Former Prisoner of War, Legion of Valor, Military Support/Freedom, National Guard, Purple Heart, Women Veterans and the standard Veteran plate. Specialty plates may be obtained through ServiceArizona.com or by submitting an application at any Motor Vehicle Division or Authorized Third Party office.

Veterans also have the option to include a military-service designation on their Arizona-issued driver license, commercial driver license, identification card or instruction permit. In addition, veterans applying for an Arizona commercial driver license have the option to request a waiver of the skills test if they meet certain requirements based on their military experience.

ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division is one of more than 50 agencies that annually come together to assist homeless and at-risk military veterans at the various StandDown events held statewide.

This year, ADOT followed the Arizona Department of Public Safety to be the second state agency involved with the U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program. Through the program, recruits enter the Army with the encouragement to develop skills in their military service to apply to  future employment with ADOT.

“ADOT is proud to participate in honoring veterans along with offering services which help to recognize the sacrifices of our military veterans while also supporting their efforts to obtain employment in the civilian workforce,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Efforts by Governor Brewer, the Arizona Legislature and veteran-support organizations helped to make these new services a reality for the thousands of veterans in Arizona.”

Over the years, ADOT has partnered with other governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations to erect monuments and designate memorials to veterans throughout the state. Many of the monuments date back to the 1800s.

Interstate 10 outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area is dubbed the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Business Loop I-8 in Yuma and Business Loop I-19 in Nogales are each a Blue Star Memorial Highway, a tribute to the service members in the armed forces who have defended the United States. Flags proudly fly at the McGuireville Veterans Memorial located within the McGuireville rest area along Interstate 17, a site noted in travel destination magazines. The Veterans Bronze Memorial Plaque in Yavapai County, originally dedicated by the Arizona State Highway Commission in July 1954, was recently dedicated to the city of Prescott.

Visit azdot.gov/mvd or servicearizona.com for more information on MVD services for veterans and to learn how to order special license plates.