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Mission accomplished for Roger Hirsh.

When the Navy veteran discovered in 2017 that a Navy-themed license plate didn’t exist in Virginia, he began working toward getting the necessary 450 preorders required by the Department of Motor Vehicles before the proposal could be sent to the General Assembly for approval. He finally reached that threshold in October, and the House and Senate signed on during their recent session. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the bill in early April.

“My wife won’t know what to do with me being here all of the time,” Hirsh quipped about his free time. “I am going to have to find something new to obsess over.”

The Navy plate preorder form closed at the end of April and all 570 preorders have been submitted to the DMV.

Those who preordered a plate should receive them in the mail in early to mid-July. For those who did not preorder a plate but would still like to show their Navy pride, the plate will be available for order on the DMV’s website this summer.

Standard plates are $25 and personalized “vanity” plates are $35. The tags are available for motorcycles, veteran-owned business vehicles and disabled motorists’ plates.

The plate is available to all active-duty personnel and veterans and spouses who wish to represent the Navy on the road. It is also a revenue share with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, which will receive $15 for every plate sold.

The NMCRS is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that provides financial, educational and other assistance to members of the naval services and their families.

“This has been five years in the making, and I’ve had people supporting me for that long. I’m grateful for the people that stuck with me through the whole process,” said Hirsh.