Deer Lake Mayor Michael Cooper received one of the state's first Bronze Star license plates Tuesday.
The plates, made available by Act 103 of 2012, allow military veterans who earned certain achievements, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Bronze Star for Valor, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross, to obtain specialty license plates showing their awards.
"Mayor Cooper first brought this issue to my attention and I'm pleased to see it finally signed into law," state Sen. David Argall, R-29, said. "These new license plates are another way for our veterans to proudly display their achievements."
Argall, along with state Reps. Mike Tobash, R-125, Jerry Knowles, R-124, and Neal P. Goodman, D-123, gave Cooper one of the first 10 plates distributed. Cooper received the plate at the senator's Pottsville office.
Argall, who sponsored the Senate version of the new law in 2009, Senate Bill 468, said the matter was first raised in 2005 by state Rep. William Adolph, R-165, with House Bill 1552. The bill failed to pass.
Cooper, who served in the Army from 1991 to 2006 and last served in Iraq, said he has supported the legislation since 2005.
While Cooper supported the legislation from the beginning, it wasn't until 2009 when he asked Argall to support it.
"People are always saying, 'Where do ideas for legislation come from?' " Argall said. "It took a little longer than we would have planned."
Argall said the Senate version he sponsored mirrored the original bill by Adolph. Knowles co-sponsored the House version of the bill this year that Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law during a ceremony Nov. 12 at the Pennsylvania National Guard's Keystone Conference Center at Fort Indiantown Gap. The bill was one of seven pertaining to veterans signed by Corbett that day.
"I hope I speak on behalf of fellow veterans and myself. We're glad that there is an option for us now to display our military accomplishments," Cooper said. "These new plates recognize some of the highest military awards for all branches of service, and it allows the veteran the choice whether they want to display these accomplishments or not. I would like to thank Sen. Argall and all the others for their support in getting this bill passed."
The legislators highlighted Cooper's activism on behalf of his fellow veterans.
"I'm happy to see someone from our area being instrumental and one of the first people to be the beneficiary of this legislation," Tobash said. "Many of our service men and women have been honored by our military and it's great to see that more people will recognize their commitment and dedication to our country."
"The Bronze Star Medal can only be awarded to a soldier who has actually been in a combat situation," Goodman said. "Because Marines are ground pounders, the Bronze Star is highly coveted, regarded and well-respected by all who earn it."
Veterans who are interested in a specialty plates can visit Argall's website, www.senatorargall.com, or call his office at 1-877-DARGALL (327-4255).