State Finally Honors Families
Who Also Sacrificed
Sometimes government gets something exactly right. In Massachusetts last month Governor Healey signed legislation creating Massachusetts’ new “Blue Star Family” license plate, giving the spouses, parents, children, siblings, and grandchildren of police officers killed in the line of duty a permanent way to honor their loved ones. The plates will be issued free of charge through the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
“No piece of legislation can erase the pain these families have endured,” State Rep. Francisco Paulino told The Valley Patriot. “A license plate won’t bring back a husband, wife, son, daughter, or other loved one who left for work wearing a badge one day and never came home.
But symbols matter.”
Blue Star Family License Plates became a reality after years of advocacy
by the New England PBA for the families of Massachusetts police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The bill was sponsored by Representative Thomas Walsh of Peabody and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr of Gloucester and received broad bipartisan support before reaching the governor’s desk. At the signing ceremony, lawmakers were joined by families of fallen officers, police officials and advocates who spent years working to make the legislation a reality.
Among those attending the signing with Governor Healey was Chris Ryan, executive director of the New England Police Benevolent Association, (and his members) whose organization played a significant role in pushing the proposal through the legislative process.
For Ryan and the NEPBA, the bill represented far more than a new license plate. It was an opportunity to publicly recognize families whose sacrifices are often overlooked. While memorials honor the officers who never came home, Ryan has long argued that the loved ones left behind deserve recognition as well.
Ryan told The Valley Patriot that these license plates will serve as a solemn reminder of how many families have been affected by police line of duty deaths.
“Every time one of these plates is seen on a Massachusetts roadway, it serves as a quiet reminder that behind every fallen police officer is a family whose sacrifice did not end at the funeral. Too often we recognize the courage of the officers while overlooking the loved ones who continue living with that loss every single day. This law acknowledges that public service extends beyond the individual wearing the uniform.”
The NEPBA worked with legislators, law enforcement organizations and surviving family members over several sessions to keep the proposal moving forward. Like many bills on Beacon Hill, the measure faced delays and required years of persistence before finally reaching the governor’s desk.
The signing ceremony was especially meaningful for the families in attendance. Several surviving spouses and relatives of fallen officers spoke about what the new plate represents—a visible reminder that the Commonwealth has not forgotten the service and sacrifice of their loved ones.
The Blue Star Family plate is expected to become available after the Registry of Motor Vehicles completes the design and production process, which typically takes several months. Eligible family members can already register their interest with the RMV as preparations begin.
For Chris Ryan, the NEPBA and the families who never stopped advocating for the legislation, the governor’s signature marked the end of a long journey -and the beginning of a lasting tribute that will travel Massachusetts roads for years to come.
Massachusetts already recognizes Gold Star military families. Extending similar recognition to the families of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our communities is both appropriate and overdue.
Sometimes legislation creates controversy. Sometimes it creates bureaucracy.
This bill creates gratitude.
And that’s something every Massachusetts resident should be able to support. ◊