Langley AFB, Va. –
In a military world, conformity is the norm – short haircuts, green uniforms and black boots.
Alpha Airmen need to stand out from the crowd. An easy way to express themselves while still conforming to military standards is through a vehicle. Makes, models, colors, rims, stereos and plates make each vehicle different.
Airmen don’t have to worry about getting expensive rims and stereos, Virginia makes it easy to afford specialty and personalized plates.
The state offers more than 180 special license plate designs that enable people with a common interest to identify or promote themselves or their cause, according to Bill Foy, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson.
“Many of our special plates represent the military, emergency personnel, fraternal orders and civic or community organizations,” he said. “However, special plates also represent a variety of other groups, such as colleges and universities, conservationists, hobbyists and amateur radio enthusiasts.”
With Virginia’s strong military presence, it’s fitting that military specials are among the states most popular plates, according to Mr. Foy. The Marine Corps plate is the most popular, he said, followed by the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, disabled veteran, Vietnam veteran and standard veteran plates in no particular order.
In addition to displaying special plates, motorists can add a personalized character combination to their plates using up to seven characters. Personalized plates cost just $10 a year in addition to the vehicle registration and special plate fees.
It’s not the price that led Tech. Sgt. Edward Perry to get personalized plates on his 2003 Chevy Avalanche, it was the blood. Born in 1972 and being of Irish decent, Sergeant Perry proudly sports IRISH72 on his truck.
“I probably wouldn’t have purchased them for myself,” he said. “My wife got them for my birthday.”
Since Sergeant Perry plans to remain Irish, he also plans to keep the plates.
Other Airmen sport the tie that binds on their license plates. Capt. Emmelyne Eaton and Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Rona have a combination of their husbands and wives on their vehicles.
Sergeant Rona combined the M from his name, the SHA from his wife Sharron and the day the couple was married to create MSHA12 for her 2001 Suzuki Grande Vitara.
“Hopefully we’ll be together for a long time,” he said.
Captain Eaton is an old hand at trying to figure out other people’s plates while on the road, but the JEEATON on her Toyota 4-Runner would be hard to decipher unless you knew her and her husband.
“I don’t know if I’ll always keep him,” she joked, “but I’ll always keep the plates. I might change them to my kids’ initials though.”
Staff Sgt. Shametra Lewis is on the other side of the car when it comes to vanity plates.
“I think they are kind of silly,” she said. “Why do you want to draw extra attention to your car? I have no plans to get personalized plates.”
Captain Eaton’s philosophy is different.
“If you aren’t planning to get into any criminal activities, who cares if you have recognizable plates,” she said.
No matter how you want to stand out, keep it clean and keep it fun.