FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016
Contact: Kristen Muszynski
office: 626-8404/cell: 441-7638

U.S. Navy Reserve Centennial license plate still available for purchase

AUGUSTA ? The State of Maine commemorative license plate celebrating the U.S. Navy Reserve Centennial is still available for purchase at all Bureau of Motor Vehicle offices.

The plate, which was introduced in September 2015, is eligible to be displayed on vehicles through March 3, 2016, but will continue to be sold thereafter as a keepsake. Each plate purchase not only commemorates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Reserves, but also helps to support the Maine Military Family Relief Fund.

Ten dollars of every $15 plate purchase goes to the fund, which provides for emergency loans and grants to members of the Maine National Guard, Reserves or Armed Forces, and their families, as well as to statewide nonprofit organizations that aid service members.
?Maine?s maritime history and strong heritage in the services of the defense of our nation are just the most basic reasons of why we?re proud to issue this commemorative plate,? said Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.

Legislation to create the U.S. Navy Reserve Centennial plate was submitted by Sen. Ronald Collins, R-Wells, and was approved by the Legislature on July 4, 2015. The commemorative plate, outlined with a golden rope design, features a ?100? with a golden anchor through it, as well as the Maine State Seal and U.S. Navy Reserve Seal.

The U.S. Navy Reserve Centennial plates can be purchased at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles office. A commemorative license plate is different than a specialty license plate, as it does not have any numbers/letters on its face and cannot replace the legally issued plates. The commemorative plate can be displayed in place of the front registration plate of the vehicle until it expires on March 3, 2016. The existing registration plate on the back of the vehicle must remain visible.

Previous commemorative plates issued in Maine include the recent Congr?s Mondial Acadien plate, issued in 2013; the USA Patriot commemorative plate, issued during Operation Desert Storm; and the national bicentennial plate, issued in 1976.