Pfc Shane M. Reifert

Pfc Shane M. Reifert
Shane during a sweep of the Shuryak Valley, approximately 3 weeks before he was killed. Photo Credit: PFC Sean Stromback

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Gold Star Family License Plate, Part II

I have taken the time to draft sample letters that can easily be sent to your Michigan State Senator or Representative. Please feel free to modify these letters in any way you wish, and do not forget to include the name of the Senator or Representative to whom you are sending the letter. Simply copy and paste the appropriate letter into a Word document and modify as you see fit.


TO A MICHIGAN STATE SENATOR


Senator,

I am writing in regards to Senate Bill 0102, which seeks to amend M.C.L. 257.803e to authorize that "[t]he spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a member of the Armed Services who died during combat may make application to the Secretary of State for a special registration plate that shall be inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by a gold star and shall have the words "Gold Star Family" inscribed beneath the registration number." 
Please help ensure that Senate Bill 0102 is passed this term. As a Michigan citizen, I was appalled to learn that our state is one of only four states that does not have a license plate acknowledging Gold Star Families. This is especially saddening when one takes into account that 1,456 Michigan citizens were casualties of the Korean War, 2,652 Michigan citizens were casualties of the Vietnam War, 13 Michigan citizens were casualties of Operation Desert Storm, 158 Michigan citizens were casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 40 Michigan citizens were casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom thus far. This adds up to at least 4,319Michigan citizens who have given their lives so that the rest of us may remain free. 
Those 4,319 Michigan Armed Services members all likely left behind families. And these families are not given the opportunity to honor their loved ones in a public manner with a special license plate. If, according to the Michigan Department of State website, Michigan citizens are given access to 4 standard plates, 24 fundraising plates, 25 veteran/military service plates, 60 collector plates, historical plates, and authentic plates, why should Gold Star Families not be given a special license plate acknowledging their families’ sacrifice? Allowing for a Gold Star Family license plate not only gives the family itself a chance to honor their hero, but also gives the public at large a visible reminder that our freedom is not free.
So, Senator, I urge you to do the right thing and vote in favor of passing Senate Bill 0102 this term.



Thank you,

 _______________________________________________________________________

TO A MICHIGAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE

 
Representative,

I am writing in regards to House Bill 4088, which seeks to amend M.C.L. 257.803e to authorize that "[t]he spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a member of the Armed Services who died during combat may make application to the Secretary of State for a special registration plate that shall be inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by a gold star and shall have the words "Gold Star Family" inscribed beneath the registration number." 
Please help ensure that House Bill 4088 is passed this term. As a Michigan citizen, I was appalled to learn that our state is one of only four states that does not have a license plate acknowledging Gold Star Families. This is especially saddening when one takes into account that 1,456 Michigan citizens were casualties of the Korean War, 2,652 Michigan citizens were casualties of the Vietnam War, 13 Michigan citizens were casualties of Operation Desert Storm, 158 Michigan citizens were casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 40 Michigan citizens were casualties of Operation Enduring Freedom thus far. This adds up to at least 4,319 Michigan citizens who have given their lives so that the rest of us may remain free. 
Those 4,319 Michigan Armed Services members all likely left behind families. And these families are not given the opportunity to honor their loved ones in a public manner with a special license plate. If, according to the Michigan Department of State website, Michigan citizens are given access to 4 standard plates, 24 fundraising plates, 25 veteran/military service plates, 60 collector plates, historical plates, and authentic plates, why should Gold Star Families not be given a special license plate acknowledging their families’ sacrifice? Allowing for a Gold Star Family license plate not only gives the family itself a chance to honor their hero, but also gives the public at large a visible reminder that our freedom is not free.
So, Representative, I urge you to do the right thing and vote in favor of passing House Bill 4088 this term.



Thank you,


 _______________________________________________________________________



2 comments:

  1. This was the response I received:


    Thank you for contacting my office regarding House Bill 4088, which provides for "Gold Star Family" license plates.

    The bill has been referred to the Transportation Committee for further review. While I am not a member of this committee, I will keep an eye on this bill. Should this bill come to the entire House of Representatives, I will gladly vote in favor of its passage.

    As you note, Michigan is one of only four states that currently do not have Gold Star license plates. I believe this is something the Michigan government can do to help honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can remain free, and serve as a reminder that freedom is not free.

    I appreciate your comments on this bill, and thank you for contacting me. I look forward to hearing from again you in the future.

    Sincerely,

    Andrea LaFontaine
    State Representative
    32nd House District

    ReplyDelete
  2. It passed the senate on Thursday, May 5, 2011

    ReplyDelete