By DAMIEN FISHER, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — A new website, a new license plate, and a renewed focus on assisting New Hampshire veterans and their families were the centerpieces of Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s bill signing ceremony.
Ayotte gathered veterans and lawmakers inside the State House Monday to unveil new license plates that will help fund the state’s First for Veterans Initiative, which she hopes will attract more veterans to choose New Hampshire as a home.
“New Hampshire is such a special state, we’re the safest state, we’re the best place to raise a family, we have the New Hampshire advantage,” Ayotte said. “We want to make sure that our veterans know that the state of New Hampshire opens up its arms. We want you to not only stay here, but when you’re getting out of active duty, perhaps come live in New Hampshire.”
Veterans and their families bring a net positive to their communities and the state as a whole, according to Ayotte. They bring experience and skills needed across industries, and they give back to their neighborhoods and towns, she said.
“We would love to have more veterans come to the state of New Hampshire. We know what you have to offer. Not only your patriotism, but your workforce skills, your sense of community and giving back to something bigger than yourselves. And so we want New Hampshire to be the most friendly state in the nation for veterans, a place where veterans feel they can always help in that state home,” Ayotte said.
The new “Patriot” license plates are going to be available for everyone through the DMV starting in January, not just veterans. The fees drivers pay for the special plates will help fund the First for Veterans Initiative. That program is aimed at helping veterans, service members, and their families through veteran-friendly policies, employment and workforce transition opportunities, improved mental and physical wellness resources, and greater awareness of available state benefits and services.
Veterans and their families can now get all of the information they need on state benefits and services through a new website, nhfirstforvets.com. That website is the creation of Swim with A Mission, SWAM, a New Hampshire nonprofit that’s raised more than $15 million for veterans since 2017. The organization is one of the lead partners with the state on the First for Veterans Initiative. Co-Founder Phil Taub hopes all the effort will draw more veterans to the Granite State.
“Our state ranks as one of the best states for veterans to live and work. We have beautiful mountains, lakes and ocean, a patriotic population that appreciates veterans, many businesses that want to hire veterans, a great VA in Manchester and more than 60 veteran service organizations that support our veterans. Veterans make great citizens, neighbors and employees. We look forward to welcoming more veterans and their families to New Hampshire,” Taub said.
For Maj. Gen. David Mikolaities, New Hampshire’s Adjutant General, Ayotte, Taub, and others in state leadership exemplify the kind of care and attention veterans earned through their service. That concern for veterans runs deep in New Hampshire, he said, as he read from a card he recently received from a 6th grade student.
“‘Dear veterans, it takes a special kind of person to serve in the military and put others first. Wishing you on a wonderful Veterans Day,’” Mikolaities read. “That really sums up what the governor, the legislators, our other commissioners, all have done to put this together, to put veterans first. We are very fortunate in New Hampshire.”