By Jeff Wentworth
Guest Commentary

Memorial Day compels us to remember that the blood of more than one million American patriots has purchased the freedom we hold so dear.

It also is a day when we unashamedly flaunt our patriotism by proudly displaying the Stars and Stripes and giving voice to the ideals that have made this nation great. By doing so, we are ensuring that the supreme sacrifices made by America’s dedicated military men and women were not made in vain.

During last year’s regular legislative session, the Texas Legislature enacted a bill that would protect the image of a fallen soldier. Senate Bill 277 provides that permission must be granted from the individual’s surviving relatives prior to the use of a clearly identifiable picture or a name for an advertisement or commercial purpose.

The bill, which I supported, also provides that current and former members of the United States armed forces must give their permission before their name or photo may be used. Prior to the passage of Senate Bill 277, the image of a fallen soldier could be used for an advertisement or other commercial purpose without the consent of surviving relatives. A violation of the new law is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a $4,000 fine and/or a year in jail.

Texas has a long history of military sacrifice, and the current conflict in the Middle East is no exception. Since the war began, 409 Texans have given their lives for our country. Fifty-seven of them lived in counties that I represent in the Texas Senate.

In another effort to help the families of the fallen, House Bill 3787 will exempt the estates of military personnel who died in combat zones from fees usually associated with filing their wills or other probate services.

As one of only four senators who has seen active duty military service, I am proud to be the Senate sponsor of House Bill 2398. This bill expands the “Gold Star” license plate program so that members of the family, as well as mothers, may be recognized for the loss they have endured.

In addition to a “Gold Star Mother” license plate honoring the mothers of individuals who die while serving in the United States armed forces, the license plate may now include the words “Gold Star Spouse” or “Gold Star Family.”

Acknowledging the debt that we owe the men and women who leave their homes so we are safe in ours should not be limited to one day a year. It should be something we do by saying “thank you for your service” to a man or woman we see in uniform and by offering a silent prayer when we pass a cemetery filled with the graves of those who served our country.

For more than 200 years, courageous men and women have bought our freedom with their lives. We include them in our thoughts and prayers on Memorial Day and each day that we breathe the fresh air of freedom.

Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) represents District 25, which includes part of Bexar County. He can be reached via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it