For years, soldiers who fought in Korea and Vietnam were told they participated in “conflicts.” But Gov. Rick Scott has signed H.B. 559 into law Thursday, which at least in the eyes of Florida, changes those “conflicts” into “wars.”
It might seem like a matter of semantics, but for veterans, using the terms “Korean War” and “Vietnam War” instead of “Korean Conflict” and “Vietnam Era” more accurately reflects the nature of the battles during those years.
The name change will be reflected on Korean War Veteran license plates in Florida, one of several plates the will be redesigned under the legislation to include images of the awards and decorations on the plate. It allows the plates to be more recognizable, and increase awareness of the veterans’ service, according to the governor’s office.
“This legislation is one more way we thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice,” Scott said, in a release.
Florida, he said, has the nation’s third largest population of veterans with more than 1.5 million people. The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It also creates a new special use license place for those who have received the Combat Medical Badge, a plate that was not available to Floridians previously.
“As Americans, we are grateful for the sacrifices made by our veterans to keep us safe and free,” state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said in a release. “This session, we were proud to honor their sacrifices and also create a Combat Medical Badge to recognize contributions of field medics in our military.”
