Montana Honor and Remember Medallion

The Montana Honor and Remember Act, at Title 10, chapter 2, part 8, creates two objects: an honor and remember medallion for family members of an eligible service member, and a commemorative memorial coin for family members of an eligible veteran. The medallion is issued with a joint resolution of the Legislature under 10-2-806. The service member must have been a Montana resident, serving on active duty, and killed in action or declared missing in action on or after September 8, 1939 in a Department of Defense recognised operation, while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not involved, while engaged in armed conflict against an opposing foreign force, or while declared missing in action. The list of eligible family members is wide: the surviving spouse, parents including adoptive and foster parents in loco parentis, children including stepchildren and adopted children, siblings and half siblings, and grandparents. Section 10-2-805 is where families should read carefully. The first medallion and the first copy of the joint resolution, or the first commemorative coin, are provided without cost. After that, additional family members may buy their own for an amount not exceeding the department's actual cost; the Veterans Affairs Division's application (March 2023) gives it as a $20 fee, which "covers the cost of the Medallion, its presentation box, inscription" and the resolution. And subsection (3) limits each family member to one medallion and resolution, or one coin. A large family gets one free object and then buys the rest, one to a person. Section 10-2-803(3) conditions the whole part on funding being available, and the accounts are in 10-2-807. Applications go to the Montana Veterans Affairs Division with official documentation verifying the death or the date the member was declared missing, and proof of the family relationship.