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Illinois Department Of Veterans' Affairs Compiling List Of Military Discounts

The Veterans’ and Military Discount Programwas supposed to go into effect in 2015. According to the law, it is designed to connect veterans and active-duty service members with merchants who want to offer special discounts and promotions.
State auditors foundthe program didn't get off the ground.

The department responded that it was delayed due to staff turnover and other priorities.

Dave MacDonna, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs,  says the department has since developed a web form for businesses to submit their discounts, which are posted on the Veterans’ Affairs website.

“This is the business way to say ‘thank you’ to the servicemen and women who have put their life on the line so they can enjoy their enterprise here in Illinois," MacDonna said.

So far, offers include free minor league baseball tickets and discounts on cremation services, among others.

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.