First Gold Star License Plates to be Presented to Families
12/09/2010
{EXCERPT} SACRAMENTO After nearly two years of effort, the state will present
the first Gold Star License Plates to three Gold Star families will be made on
Thursday 9 December by California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Roger Brautigan and California Department of Motor Vehicles Director George Valverde.
EVENT: Presentation of the First Gold Star License Plates to Gold Star families.
DATE: Thursday 9 December
TIME: 3 pm
PLACE: All Veterans Memorial Capitol Park Corner of 13th and N Street
Sacramento, CA
WHO: Gold Star Families, Secretary of California Department of Veterans Affairs
Roger Brautigan, Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles George
Valverde, Rep Jeff Denham (principal co-author of the legislation that created
the program) former State Senator Dave Cogdill (author of the legislation that
created the program); representatives from Remembering the Brave Foundation;
representatives from AmVets; and many more.
BACKGROUND: The Gold Star License Plate Program was created in 2008 by
legislation (SB 1455 Cogdill) signed by the Governor Schwarzenegger. The
legislation created a specialized license plate with a distinctive Gold Star
emblazoned on the left side which is the national symbol that has come to
recognize families that have lost someone (son, daughter, husband, wife, mother
father, grandchild, grandfather) who was serving in the military. The bill
specifically included a provision that required the Department of Veterans
Affairs to raise the $300,000 through private donation to pay for the creation
of the new license plate program. The money has been raised and has been
delivered to the Department of Motor Vehicle. In anticipation of the funds
coming in the DMV began working on the programing in advance and as a result the
DMV began accepting applications for these plates on Dec 1.
To learn more more about ordering a Gold Star License Plate go to: http://www.cdva.ca.gov/VetFund/GoldStar.aspx