Hochul signs Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act to honor Vietnam veteran & those who served nation

Legislation will allow spouses of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to apply for distinctive license plates, transfers license plates of deceased recipients to surviving spouses

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she 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. A press release stated, “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.”

Hochul said, "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. 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 Sen. Jeremy Cooney said, "Medal of Honor recipients are amongst 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 Sgt. Gary Beikirch in the hopes that his family will be allowed to display their pride, and keep his memory alive. I thank Gov. Hochul and my colleagues in the Legislature for their support of this bill."

Assembly member Sarah Clark said, "The Congressional Medal of Honor is our nation's highest military honor. Sgt. 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. Sgt. 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 Gov. 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 press release stated, “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.”

Beikirch, Army veteran, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exemplary service during the Vietnam War in 1970.