“Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act”
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced she has 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. 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.
“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,” Governor Hochul said. “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 Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Medal of Honor recipients are among 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 Sergeant Gary Beikirch in the hopes that his family will be allowed to display their pride, and keep his memory alive. I thank Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the legislature for their support of this bill.”
Assemblymember Sarah Clark said, “The Congressional Medal of Honor is our nation’s highest military honor. Sergeant 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. Sergeant 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 Governor 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 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.
Additionally, this legislation is named in honor of Sergeant Gary Beikirch, an Army veteran who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exemplary service during the Vietnam War in 1970. This law will allow Sergeant Beikirch’s wife and all Medal of Honor spouses to display these distinctive plates, helping to preserve the legacy of our New York’s military heroes.
Addressing the Minimum Age of Lifeguards in NYS
Governor Hochul also announced she signed key legislation to address the minimum age of lifeguards at children’s camps. Legislation (S.6467-A/A.5821A) will require lifeguards for children’s camps to be at least 17 years of age except that up to 50 percent of the required number of lifeguards on duty may be at least 15 years of age if they are under the supervision of a camp aquatics director. Lifeguards required for wilderness swimming must be at least 18 years of age.
“New Yorkers deserve the opportunity to safely enjoy our world-class beaches and camps across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation will help address the lifeguard shortage, while ensuring that our children and fellow New Yorkers are supervised and safe in the waters this summer.”
To address the shortage of lifeguards in New York State, legislation (S.6467-A/A.5821A) allows for the expansion of individuals who can become lifeguards at overnight, summer day, and travelling summer camps for children.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Parents in New York deserve the peace of mind to know their children are safe and well supervised when attending summer camp, especially when they’re swimming and participating in water activities. Lifeguards in New York are well trained and equipped to respond and save lives in the event of an emergency. This legislation will keep swimmers at camp safe while creating opportunities for more young people who are interested in becoming a lifeguard.”
New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “Lifeguards are vital to ensuring safe and enjoyable experiences at a diverse range of swimming facilities in New York. I applaud Governor Hochul and the state Legislature for approving this measure to expand the pool of lifeguards across the state. As a former Harriman State Park lifeguard, I encourage young New Yorkers to pursue lifeguarding as a way to earn money, gain valuable job experience, and serve the public.”
Source: The Office of the Governor