17 KAR 5:010. Kentucky Medal for Freedom.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 40.353

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 40.353

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS

40.353 authorizes the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) to award

the Kentucky Medal for Freedom to eligible recipients and to maintain a

Kentucky Medal for Freedom honor roll. This administrative regulation

establishes the requirements for the Kentucky Medal for Freedom program.

 

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Applicant"

means a person, eighteen years old or older, who is seeking the Medal for Freedom

on behalf of the deceased recipient.

      (2) "Primary next of kin" means

the person or persons with whom the Medal for Freedom.

      (3) "Recipient" means the

deceased military person who was killed in action and is being honored by award

of the Medal for Freedom.

 

      Section 2. Application Procedure to

Nominate Recipient. (1) Any adult, age eighteen (18) or older, may nominate

someone to receive the Kentucky Medal for Freedom.

      (2) The nomination process shall be initiated

by filling out a Kentucky Medal for Freedom Nomination.

      (3) All requests and inquiries concerning

the Kentucky Medal for Freedom shall be directed to: Kentucky Department of

Veterans Affairs, Kentucky Medal for Freedom Contact Person, 1111B Louisville

Rd., Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

      (4) Each Medal for Freedom that is

awarded shall be presented to the primary next of kin using this order of

priority:

      (a) Widow or widower;

      (b) Children;

      (c) Parents, unless legal custody was

granted to another person;

      (d) Blood or adoptive relative granted

legal custody;

      (e) Siblings in the order of age,

beginning with the oldest;

      (f) Grandparents;

      (g) Another relative; or

      (h) Close friend or associate.

 

      Section 3. Medal for Freedom Award Panel.

(1) A panel of three full-time employees of the Kentucky Department of Veterans

Affairs shall review all applications.

      (2) The commissioner or the deputy

commissioner shall act as chairperson for the award panel.

      (3) The other two (2) members of the

Panel shall be chosen from among the senior staff of the department, such as

the executive director, Office of Kentucky Veterans Centers; Cemetery Branch

Manager; Field Operations Branch Manager; cemetery directors; and administrators

of the state veterans nursing homes.

      (4) The award panel shall decide whether

an application shall be approved and, if so, which primary next of kin shall

receive the medal.

      (5) Multiple medals for the same

recipient may be awarded at the discretion of the award panel.

 

      Section 4. Kentucky Medal for Freedom

Honor Roll. The Department shall establish a permanent honor roll, listing each

recipient’s name and branch of service.

      (1) The honor roll shall reside on a

permanent basis in the Office of the Commissioner, Kentucky Department of

Veterans Affairs, Frankfort, Kentucky.

      (2) The Honor Roll shall be made

available for display at special occasions such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or

during special ceremonies conducted at state or federal cemeteries located

throughout the Commonwealth.

 

      Section 5. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) Kentucky Medal for Freedom Nomination, KDVA Form 5, January 2009, is incorporated

by reference.

      (2) This material may be inspected,

copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department of

Veterans Affairs, 1111B Louisville Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday

through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This material shall also be available on

the department's Web site at www.veterans.ky.gov/. (35 Ky.R. 1093; Am.

1434; eff. 1-5-2009.)