Share

Rating: 5.0 (1 vote)

• Photos
• Video

• • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

  • Previous
  • Next
• • Helena High Ambiance Choir
  • Gold Star Family license plates unveiled
  • 
  • 

  • Previous
  • Next
  • Helena High Ambiance Choir
  • Gold Star Family license plates unveiled

Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger joined Attorney General Steve Bullock, Brigadier General John Walsh, and MT State Representative Franke Wilmer in a ceremony on Thursday in Helena to unveil the Gold Star Family license plates.

The new plates are available to Montanans who have lost a family member in war. Bohlinger noted, "These special license plates are another way to recognize those who have served in uniform and given the ultimate sacrifice. Montanans' patriotism runs thick, and each time we see a Gold Star Plate on a Montana highway we will recognize and respect the sacrifice given by soldier and family for country."

During the ceremony, Bullock presented a set of the new plates personalized with "HERO" to Ron Koontz, who created the Montana Fallen Soldier Memorial. Koontz's step-son, Army Sergeant Scott Dykman, was killed in Iraq in December 2006. Bullock said, "Ron Koontz plans to take this memorial to other communities as a tribute to the 36 Montanans who have died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. By bringing the Memorial to their communities, Ron will make sure that the sacrifices made by other Gold Star Families throughout the state are recognized and remembered – as they should be."

General Walsh of the Montana National Guard noted, "The men and women we honor today gave up everything for our country, for our freedom, for us. We owe a great debt of gratitude to each and every one of these heroes who left the safety of civilian life to die on foreign soil. The desire of these brave individuals to serve their country will forever be appreciated. Our goal must be to never let the people of Montana forget the sacrifices made for our freedom and to take care of the families of our fallen heroes now and into the future."

The 2009 Legislature authorized the Gold Star Family plates through HB 373, introduced by Rep. Wilmer of Bozeman, who said, "I was honored to carry this bill in the 2009 Legislature. Gold Star license plates remind us all of the sacrifices made not only by Montanans in military service, but the families they leave behind."

Click here to learn more about the plates.

WEB EXTRA: the Helena High School Ambiance Choir performed at the ceremony: