House Bill 2498 has passed the PA Assembly and was signed into law by the governor on Oct 4, 2006 as Act 117 of 2006.

I asked my representative to introduce this bill nearly a year earlier and it has finally passed. There are some photos from the signing ceremony below and more on the American Gold Star Mothers web site.

You may qualify for the Gold Star Family Plate. The following relatives of a member of the military that has died while on active duty qualify:

Widow, Widower, Mother, Father, Stepmother/father, Mother/father through adoption, Foster mother/father in loco parentis, Son, Daughter, Stepson/daughter, Son/daughter by adoption, Brother, Sister, Half brother/sister.

Check here for more background and here for more information and links to the application form.

If you would like to work to get a similar plate for your state see my list of resources.

Gov Rendell talks with some of the Gold Star Families before the signing.

Gov Rendell talks with some members of the Philadelphia chapter of American Gold Star Mothers.

The Governor addresses the audience and press.

Ruth Stonesifer presents Gov Rendell with a Gold Star Mother statuette. The statuette is a replica of one recently installed in Putnam County NY and was made by Andrew Chernak of Pennsylvania.

From left to right Betty Serian (standing), Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Ruth Stonesifer, originator of the legislation, Gov. Edward Rendell, Major General Jessica Wright, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania. In the background standing are members of Gold Star Families from Vietnam to the present.

Gov Rendell presents Ruth Stonesifer with the first Gold Star Family Plate. The gold star at the left is rimmed in blue as is the star on the service flag.