A license plate to Support Our Troops
By Stephanie Chelf
Staff writer
METHUEN - If a "Support Our Troops" license plate became available, Peter Pellerin of Methuen would be among the first to receive one.
"I'm proud of the guys overseas, and I want to support them and show everyone else I support them," said Pellerin, the father of a 25-year-old Army Ranger who has served three tours in Iraq.
The Methuen-based New England Caring for Our Military is leading an effort to create the new specialty plate in Massachusetts.
Pellerin reserved his $40 plate a year ago after the group's founder, Jim Sereigo-Wareing, came up with the idea for a plate, featuring a bald eagle with a yellow ribbon in its beak and a flag waving in the background with the words Support Our Troops at the bottom.
The state Registry of Motor Vehicles allows nonprofit groups to create decorative plates to promote causes and raise money for charity, providing they procure 1,500 orders and a $100,000 bond before it goes into production. The organization is also charged with marketing the plate and selling 1,500 more during the first two years it is issued for manufacturing to continue.
"My No. 1 reason for doing this is to get the plate out there and show soldiers we support them," Wareing said. "The money part is secondary. I just want the plate on the road. It's a morale booster for the soldiers serving currently."
Wareing has gotten 300 orders for the license plate, so far.
But he remains undetered and has turned to state lawmakers for help in getting the registry to relax its requirements.
State Rep. Linda Campbell, a Methuen democrat and Army veteran, agreed to file a bill that would pave the way for the specialty plate to be created and the money raised used to support state veterans services, if passed. Her proposal will be reviewed by the state Transportation Committee, she said.
"This is a plate that allows folks to show support for the troops without discussing politics of the war," Campbell said. "There are a lot more troops coming home that we need to take care of. This is one way insuring that the money is getting to the folks it needs to."
Wareing has relied on word-of-mouth to sell the plate, and talks it up every chance he gets at events where veterans gather. But, he understands why people are reluctant to pay for something they will have to wait months, even longer, to receive, he said.
"It's frustrating. People want to go down to the registry and pick it up," he said.
Massachusetts already has 16 specialty plates that champion everything from child-care programs to breast cancer research to the Massachusetts 9/11 Foundation. The first plate, created in 1994, was the right whale plate to support the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. The Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots all have specialty plates supporting team-sponsored charities.
Each plate carries an initial $40 fee, with $28 going to the charity and $12 to the registry for manufacturing. Renewal is every two years and costs $81 to $91, with $40 to $50 for the charity, while the registry collects the standard $41 fee.
Wareing estimates the Support Our Troops plates could generate $500,000 to $1 million for veterans services.
"I think the plate will be No. 1 in Massachusetts," he said.
Lilian Bedard, the wife of a World War II veteran, thinks so, too.
"It looks quite nice. I'm anxious to get it," she said.
Ronald Chapot of Methuen ordered his specialty plate a year ago.
"I'm a retired serviceman," he said. "We need to support the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. If this money will go to help them out, I think it's worthwhile. This is a good idea."
To learn more about the "Support our Troops" plate, visit www.necfom.org or call 978-682-4979.
About specialty license plates
There are 16 specialty plates available.
More than $30 million has been raised by the plates for charities.
Right whale plate to benefit Massachusetts Environmental Trust was the first, created in 1994.
Cape Cod and the Islands plate is the most popular with 49,596 plates.
MiniFenway Park is the newest specialty plate to pay for construction of a baseball field for children in Quincy.
Plates cost $40 to $50.
Renewal fees are $81 to $91 every two years (including $41 RMV registration fee).
Other organizations applying for plates now include: Boston Celtics, Martha's Vineyard and the Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association.
