PEORIA, Ill. – A change in state law lobbied for by a local official has led to Tazewell County being first in the state to use a new way to make some military records more readily available and easier for family members to search.
Every military discharge record of every Tazewell County resident there could be is now digitized, thanks to a project spearheaded by Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman.
“The valuable veterans records had been dismissed and locked away in a closet,” said Ackerman. “This office changed the law in the State of Illinois to allow for these records to be made public documents.”
It’s not required that military discharge records be filed with the County Clerk, but Ackerman says it’s free and it’s a really good idea, especially if a military funeral is being planned.
“This immediately improves the availability of these records for family genealogical research, for classrooms looking for historical references and insight in to our military history, and most importantly, this improves the security of these treasured, historical documents,” said Ackerman.
There are still limitations, however. Immediate family can search all the documents online, but they’re otherwise not fully accessible until 62 years after the discharge has passed, so for everyone else, parts may be redacted.
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