Did you know when you buy the “Support Our Troops” (SOT) License Plate, you are helping Minnesota Veterans and their families?

The Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs (MDVA) distributes funds raised by the sale of SOT license plates to numerous organizations that support Minnesota Veterans and their families. Learn more about the /mdva/resources/federalresources/grants/index.jspSOT grant program on our website.

Honor Flight Twin Cities was awarded a $50,000 SOT grant to provide 75 WWII and Korean War Veterans with free, round trip charter airline passage to Washington D.C. to view the Veteran memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

Honor Flight Twin Cities Mission
In May of 2004, our nation completed the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the sacrifices of the "Greatest Generation." Sadly, because of their age, financial constraints or health concerns, many of these Veterans have not had an opportunity to see their monument. Honor Flight Twin Cities is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's World War II and Korean Veterans for all of their sacrifices.

HFTC WWII Veteran testimonial
“So many wonderful things happened during this trip that words can’t really express the effect it had on me and on all the other World War II and Korean Veterans who were with me. We visited the Iwo Jima Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Women’s Memorial and drove by the Capitol and White House. We visited the WWII Memorial with Flag and Taps ceremony, and the Korea Memorial with Flag and Taps ceremony. We then visited the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials, and lastly, the Changing of the Guard and Flag Ceremony at Arlington.”

“Huge thanks to all the Honor Flight people who sponsor and plan this event, from the plane flights there and back, bus rides with police escort all around Washington D.C., the delicious meals served and the wonderful “welcome back home” ceremony at the Hubert H Humphrey terminal at 10:30 at night. There were dignitaries greeting us, military personnel saluting us, bagpipes and bands playing, American flags flying and all the Veterans’ families and friends lined up as far as the eye could see shaking our hands and welcoming us home. Then to have the surprise of seeing my family, my wife and my children and their families, my grandchildren and their families, even my great-grandchildren standing in that line, with balloons flying and little flags waving. All the hugs and loving words made a marvelous ending to the Honor Flight. That ceremony was one that I will never forget. Thank you – one and all – for everything!”

The SOT competitive grant program is currently “on-hold” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MDVA tentatively plans to renew the program this fall 2021.

For more information about purchasing a SOT license plate, /mdva/resources/supporttroopslicenseplates.jspvisit our website.