Gov. Maggie Hassan signed SB 47, effective Aug. 31, that allows a spouse to retain the Purple Heart license plate after the recipient’s death, until the death or remarriage of the surviving spouse.

I strongly protest this decision. A recipient of this medal should be the only person entitled to this plate. The spouse did not earn the Purple Heart Medal.

You cannot tell who is the real recipient. These plates look the same. There is no difference or marking between the person who earned the medal and the pretender spouse.

This is how we show respect to those who have worn the uniform and met the criteria for the Purple Heart?

There are those who say they want to honor their deceased spouse by driving with a Purple Heart plate. I respect their wishes, but how does this help? There are no differences on the plate. There are other ways to honor than pretending to be the recipient of that Purple Heart medal.

We now have a new law. However, this new law lessens and dilutes the significance and importance of the Purple Heart.

Ann Darby Reynolds

Exeter