Attention all veterans in Chatham County! You can now register your Military Discharge Papers (DD Form 214) at no cost in the county Register of Deeds Office and earn discounts offered by local businesses. The Thank a Vet Program is a collaboration of the Register of Deeds Office, County Administration and local businesses.

“We hope that the discounts at local businesses will encourage more veterans to file their discharge papers with our office,” said Register of Deeds Lunday A. Riggsbee. “If veterans misplace their papers, it is a difficult and slow process to obtain replacement copies.”

The Register of Deeds offices across the state have been recording the DD Form 214 military discharge papers since the early 1940s. However, many veterans never take advantage of this service. “These records are secure. By law, only the veterans, widows, widowers, or VA officer can obtain copies of the recorded papers."

The Thank a Vet Program will provide a special photo ID card to any veteran who has filed their DD Form 214 in the Chatham County Register of Deeds Office. The ID card will be provided by Chatham County and can be presented at specified local businesses to earn a discount.

“We believe that doing this is a great way for our county government and local businesses to honor and celebrate our veterans,” Riggsbee said.

Many Chatham County businesses are participating by offering discounts to those veterans who present their “Thank You for Your Service” Veterans Photo ID card. All participating businesses can be found at this link. The Veterans’ Discount Program is totally free to veterans and to our business partners.  

Local Participating Businesses  

More than 50 businesses in Chatham County have signed up to offer discounts to veterans with a Thank a Vet Photo ID Card. The card isn’t an official government-issued identification, but it will secure the discounts at participating businesses. Businesses interested in participating should call (919) 542-8235. View the current list of participating businesses. 

Veterans can visit every Monday-Friday from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm to record papers and obtain their photo IDs. There may be busy periods, so there may be times that an appointment will be needed.