Setting aside our usual lessons in military history and how they play into our current lives, let’s look at some veteran related issues that although they seem to be all of that, also affect every tax paying citizen. As we review the forms to send our hard-earned dollars to the government, it becomes even more important to know this information.

Among the warriors of this country is a code that they follow. It extends beyond their time in service and remains very close to the hearts of almost every veteran. That code is mired in ” you earn what you get.” Reward in the military comes from having done something, even if that something was small and appearing to be insignificant. Or it was monumental and changed the life of that service member or others.

Everything attached to military service is about promotion. To get promoted one needs to clear many hurdles. Just the counted time one serves is a measure for promotion. Schooling and other training adds to the opportunity to gain rank. And with increased rank comes better pay and added benefits like better housing or choice duty assignments.

Sometimes this recognition just seems to happen during the soldier’s career path and sometimes its special rewards like medals, ribbons and citations.

After every campaign or operation, the higher levels of command write letters about the subordinates beneath them. They spell out the good jobs they did, and these letters are filed in their personnel folders to help in advancement. Often the soldier did nothing special, but they participated and were there.

But sometimes they did heroic things and received commendations for specific actions. Other times they sacrificed themselves by injury receiving special medals for combat related wounds.

When these service members leave the military, they are granted many different benefits from the government. These range from State and Local rewards like free entrance to state parks or discount pricing on items even at specific retailers or food chains. The federal government has since the days of Abraham Lincoln provided for the veterans and their families by law. And over the years groups like the American Legion or VFW, have argued for increased benefits for discharged personnel and even those still serving. These groups brought service members the likes of the GI Bill, housing loans and increased or improved care at VA medical facilities. It was once the norm for less skilled or lower educated people in the medical field to be paid less money to work for VA hospitals. Recently through legislation and support from organizations and congress the VA system is seeing a revitalized rebirth of services offered to our nation’s prior warriors. Some of the most innovative and skilled people are now working exclusively for the Veterans Administration.

So, these men and women who put on our nation’s uniform now receive many perks and benefits. And as they progress through the transitions of life , they still follow that code.

But what if it’s discovered that a lie was told, or an embellishment is found on the uniform of another soldier or by a claimed Vet? Well, that is when the code becomes more personal. Other soldiers do not like when another or an imposter uses the uniform or that embellishment to receive undeserved credit or benefit. We from the military call it Stolen Valor. In many states and within the federal code along with military regulations it is referred to as a crime.

The average citizen may see this and not think much about it saying that its usually a mentally ill person or a drugged-out person who is unlawfully wearing a uniform with more medals and ribbons than can fit on the chest of the individual. Members of the military see it in a different light. This imposter is trying to gain favor. Or take what they did not earn, even if that is just a free cup of coffee. Many of these fake soldiers are scamming money to buy drugs or to allow them to buy the things that others had to work hard to afford.

Stolen Valor is now a serious deal to members of the military or the veterans in a community where this violator is found. Some specialty groups from within the military even have research pages to discover and bring to justice such offenders.

One organization that holds this particularly sacred is the Navy SEALs. They are quite offended when someone claims to be of their clan when in fact they were not. They attempt to expose and even have prosecuted those making such offenses.

All of this seems to be just a military organizational problem that affects mainly those in the military following the code. But I want to tell you it is much closer to home and in your own pocket than you would expect.

Remember we learned about those benefits each veteran gets from their government? One of them is tax exemptions, or reductions. At local county and school tax levies those who served their country get discounts on their taxes here in New York and in many other states by law. In some cases, it’s a very substantial deduction from either real value or a direct reduction in paid amount. There are many who claim this exemption. For most it is a valid and fair benefit given to those service members. In other circumstances it is being stolen by those trying to save a buck, or it is neglect of the assessor’s offices to remove the exemptions applied to property after a veteran no longer owns it.

I am willing to speculate that there are a vast many properties just here in Chautauqua County that are improperly marked for exemption and have never been changed or contested. I have researched the tax rolls of the county and found a good count of property still showing veterans exemptions when no veteran or dependent is residing there. That means that within a specific tax levy, not all properties are paying the fair share. It also means that the code is being violated and now a benefit reserved for those of sacrifice is sharing it with liars and thieves. The residents complain about having to pay skyrocketing taxes, but how much of those increases could be lowered if unrepresented veterans benefit was removed from certain property under the auspices of stolen valor?

As a veteran and one who properly filed for my exemptions and honor the privileges given to me for my time in uniform, I believe that property owners, citizens, and all others here in New York should acknowledge the veterans and provide for them as Abraham Lincoln proclaimed. And they should stop attempting to use the benefits that were put into place for their own reward. Our offices of finance should look into just how many plots of real estate are holding these exemptions illegally.

Reserve the benefit to the veteran for them and avoid the abuse that leads to disruptions in the services they collect. In an easier way of expression, No Stolen Valor!

Kirk L. Miller is past commander of the Chautauqua County American Legion, 8th District Department of New York.