Text of American Legion resolution supporting Gold Star Wives property tax exemption

WHEREAS, Since the Revolutionary War, more than one million American soldiers have died in battle and military conflicts; their families, who have endured these losses and the accompanying grief, are known as Gold Star Families and their spouses as Gold Star Wives; and Gold Star Families are a living legacy of each fallen soldier to help us all remember and honor these heroes by name and deed, and  

WHEREAS, on April 5, 2021 the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado issued Senate Joint Resolution 21-010, resolving on behalf of the citizens “That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, honor the pride and the pain of the parents and partners and children and siblings of our fallen heroes who lost his or her life serving our country and protecting our freedom; and recognize the families of these proud patriots with an expression of profound gratitude and respect” and 

 

WHEREAS, in 2006 the citizens of Colorado overwhelmingly approved by amendment to the State Constitution Article X Section 3.5 the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption for totally disabled service-connected military veterans; and in 2014 the Colorado Legislature expanded the Senior and Veteran Property Tax Exemption to include surviving spouses by HB14-1373, and 

 

WHEREAS, the sacrifices of Gold Star Families are to be honored with respect as well as material support and 

 

WHEREAS, surviving spouses of servicemembers who die on active duty are only by the technicality of their servicememember’s death not being in receipt of the exemption thereby denied the exemption, and 

 

WHEREAS, this distinction between survivors of totally disabled veterans already in receipt of the Disabled Property Tax Exemption and survivors of active duty servicemembers (“Gold Star Wives”) denied the exemption solely due to the death of their spouse while in service is an offense to the honor of the State, contrary to the spirit expressed by the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado Senate Joint Resolution 21-010, and contrary to the intentions of Colorado citizens’ approval of Article X Section 3.5 as presented in the 2006 Referendum E, and  

 

WHEREAS, the American Legion Department of Colorado and the Gold Star Wives are both member organizations of the United Veterans Coalition of Colorado, and  

 

WHEREAS, either a legislative or constitutional amendment process being necessary, it may suffice that a redefinition of “disabled veteran” to include a death on active duty, or other such procedure as the General Assembly shall direct; and that surviving spouses of Colorado Air and Army National Guard members who die while activated by the Governor for State service should also receive such respect and benefits, it is therefore  

 

RESOLVED, by the American Legion Department of Colorado that inclusion of unremarried Gold Star Wives and unremarried surviving spouses of Colorado National Guard members who die while activated by the Governor for State service, be included in the Disabled Veteran Survivor Property Tax Exemption because it is both necessary and proper, that the United Veterans Coalition be informed for this to be part of its state legislative objectives until acted upon with a goal of implementation before 2023.