Most vets don’t carry our DD214 around it has identity theft level information on it. We carry our VA issued red,white, and blue cards and most states not only issue licence plates but put veteran with last service branch or DV veteran and your last service branch if you have multiple like many vets do. Especially Mustangs who go green to gold.
Of course not, it is a figurative statement alluding to being able to provide valid proof of service somehow.
My driver's license says "Veteran" and I did have to provide a DD 214 to prove it to them. Same for my VA ID card.