Legislation Would Allow Counties to Offer ID Discount Cards to Parents of Fallen Military
TRENTON – Working to honor and respect those who have sacrificed their lives for our country, Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jim Beach today announced he will introduce legislation on Monday to provide parents of fallen military personnel with identification and discount cards.
“The pain of losing a child is unimaginable, but when that child has sacrificed their life for the safety and security of our country, they and their families deserve to be honored,” said SenatorBeach, D-Camden and Burlington. “Something as simple as offering identification cards to access discounts and courtesies is a small token of our gratitude for their families’ service, and their sacrifice and loss.”
The bill would allow county clerks and registrars to issue identification cards to Gold Star parents that would provide the mothers and fathers of members of the armed forces who have lost their lives while actively serving in the US military to receive discounts or other courtesies extended to military families.
The symbolism of the gold star began during World War I, when homes and business would hang white flags with a blue star in their window to indicate an active duty member of the military lived or worked there. If the person gave their life for their country, the blue star would be replaced with a gold one.
Currently, county clerks, at their discretion, are able to provide identification cards for municipal and county employees, senior citizens and veterans.
The bill will be introduced during Monday’s Senate quorum. It will be referenced to the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.