The county clerk’s office will permanently keep certified copies of papers on file when needed for veterans of their families. The service is free and by request, according to Clerk Joanne Schwartz.
“Burlington County is proud to be the chosen home of more than 30,000 veterans, and we’ve made it part of our mission to recognize and support them in as many ways as possible,” Schwartz explained.
She described a fast and simple process that ensures the discharge papers are easily accessible, and if they are ever lost, a veteran won’t need to navigate complicated red tape in the U.S. Department of Defense. DD214 records are private and not released to anyone without a veteran’s consent or that of an authorized family member.
Veterans interested in registering with the clerk’s office can make an appointment by calling (609) 265-5122. Walk-in service is also available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the office, 50 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly.
The service is one of several county programs designed to assist and support veterans, including case management at the Military and Veterans Services Office, a cemetery care program that maintains veteran gravesites in more than 96 county cemeteries and places flags on Memorial Day, and adoption-fee waivers at the county animal shelter.