ALBANY – The New York State Senate recently passed legislation sponsored by state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, that provides Gold Star family members with the option of obtaining distinctive license plates.
New Yorkers have a proud history of responding to the call to serve in our nation’s Armed Forces. A higher percentage of mothers and fathers are serving today than in any time in recent history. More than 40 percent of the military are parents and over 230,000 children have a mother or father at war.
Gold Star families are the immediate relatives of service members who have been killed in combat or in support of other military activities. Sen. Griffo’s legislation –S2539 – creates a special, distinctive license plate for Gold Star families, Gold Star mothers or family members who live in the state. The legislation also removes the registration fee for the license plates.
“The families of the brave men and women who have died protecting our freedom deserve every effort we can possibly make on their behalf,” Sen. Griffo said. “Giving them an opportunity to honor their loved one with a custom license plate will serve as a powerful reminder to everyone that drives and rides on New York’s streets and highways that military families live among us.”
State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, R-Batavia, has sponsored companion legislation – A1696 – in the state Assembly.
