New York State Department of Financial Services
07/03/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/03/2023 11:47
Ahead of July 4th Holiday, Governor Hochul Signs 'Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act' to Honor Heroic Vietnam Veteran and All Other New Yorkers Who Received the Congressional[...]
July 3, 2023
Albany, NY
Ahead of July 4th Holiday, Governor Hochul Signs "Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act" to Honor Heroic Vietnam Veteran and All Other New Yorkers Who Received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Serving Our Nation
Ahead of July 4th Holiday, Governor Hochul Signs "Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act" to Honor Heroic Vietnam Veteran and All Other New Yorkers Who Received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Serving Our Nation
Legislation (A.3305-B/ S.5521-A) Will Allow Spouses of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients to Apply for Distinctive License Plates, Transfers Distinctive License Plates of Deceased Medal of Honor Recipients to Surviving Spouses
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced she has signed the "Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act," legislation which expands eligibility for special license plates issued to Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to include their spouses. Legislation (A.3305-B/ S.5521-A) will allow spouses of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to apply for distinctive license plates and transfer the license plates of deceased recipients to surviving spouses. The law will ensure that spouses of those who have received Congressional Medals of Honor can commemorate the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women they married.
"The brave men and women who have received Congressional Medals of Honor have gone above and beyond the call of duty in sacrifice to their nation, and they deserve to be properly honored," Governor Hochul said. "By extending the opportunity to display these special license plates to the family members of honorees, we are taking yet another step to show our appreciation for the valor, heroism, and selflessness of our military members."
State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, "Medal of Honor recipients are among the greatest heroes in our country, and it is important their families be permitted to showcase their pride. I carried this bill in honor of local Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Gary Beikirch in the hopes that his family will be allowed to display their pride, and keep his memory alive. I thank Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the legislature for their support of this bill."Assemblymember Sarah Clark said,"The Congressional Medal of Honor is our nation's highest military honor. Sergeant Gary Beikirch received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1973 for coming to the aid of wounded American service members while wounded himself in Vietnam. Sergeant Beikirch proudly displayed the distinctive Congressional Medal of Honor license plate, among many other honors. The Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act will allow Mrs. Beikirch and all Medal of Honor spouses to display this distinctive plate, preserving the legacy of our New York heroes while also honoring the important contributions made by our military spouses and families. Thank you to the Department of Motor Vehicles for working with my team on this legislation and to Governor Hochul for her support."Legislation (A.3305-B/S.5521-A) will allow spouses of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to apply for distinctive license plates and transfer the license plates of deceased recipients to surviving spouses. The change will also help ensure that veterans who do not drive or whose cars are not registered under their name are still able to proudly display and commemorate their veteran service and military honors.
Additionally, this legislation is named in honor of Sergeant Gary Beikirch, an Army veteran who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exemplary service during the Vietnam War in 1970. This law will allow Sergeant Beikirch's wife and all Medal of Honor spouses to display these distinctive plates, helping to preserve the legacy of our New York's military heroes.
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