New Nev. license plates for families of war dead

The Associated Press

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 | 1:25 p.m.

Nevada is joining more than 40 other states that have special license plates for families of those who died while serving in the military.

Gov. Jim Gibbons plans to present the state's first Gold Star license plates on Monday to the parents of two soldiers killed in action in Iraq. The Legislature authorized the plates during the past session and Gibbons signed the measure into law in May.

"The memory of those who fought and died for our safety and liberty must be remembered by all freedom-loving Nevadans," Gibbons said.

The plates, which will be available starting Monday, have a single gold star and are coded "FV" for "Fallen Veteran."

Plate No. 0001 will go to Roger Varela of Fernley, founder of the Gold Star Families of Northern Nevada. His son, Ray Varela, was killed near Baghdad on May 19, 2007.

Sally Wiley, of Gardnerville, will receive license plate 0002. Her son, Sean Diamond, was killed in Iraq Feb. 15.

"I hope family members who display these license plates do so with honor and pride," the governor said in a statement.

The plates are available to the spouse, parent, stepparent, grandparent, child, stepchild, dependent, sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling of a service member killed in the line of duty.

A set of the plates costs $1, which covers the cost of producing them, said Tom Jacobs, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

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On the Net:

Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, http://www.dmvnv.com

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Information from: Nevada Appeal, http://www.nevadaappeal.com

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