Gold Star plates issued to families of war dead

The first Gold Star license plates issued in Nevada were presented by Gov. Jim Gibbons to families of fallen soldiers.

The plates, authorized by the 2009 Legislature, have a single gold star and are coded "FV" for "Fallen Veteran."

At a ceremony Monday in Carson City, Gibbons presented the first plate to Roger Varela of Fernley. Varela is founder of the Gold Star Families of Northern Nevada. His son, Ray, was killed near Baghdad on May 19, 2007.

The second license plate was issued to Sally Wiley of Gardnerville. Her son, Sean Diamond, was killed Feb. 15 in Iraq.

In all, 12 plates were issued Monday.

The plates are available to survivors of service members killed in the line of duty.

Nevada joins more than 40 other states that have special plates honoring fallen soldiers.