By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 2961, known as the TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act. The bill was authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa.
The bill honors Tech. Sgt. Marshal Dakota Roberts of Claremore, who was killed in action on March 11, 2020. Roberts served in the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, part of the 138th Fighter Wing and was a friend of Rep. Hildebrant, who also served there.
“I am grateful my colleagues recognized the weight of this bill, named for a fellow Airman and brother-in-arms who gave his life in service,” Hildebrant said. “His family lives with that loss every single day, and this time of year is especially heavy for them. I wear his memorial bracelet in honor of his name and service dates and as a reminder of his sacrifice, and that of so many others, every day.
The Gold Star Survivor Act will provide spouses and children of fallen service members with free tuition, fees and room and board at Oklahoma public universities and career technology centers. To be eligible, recipients have to maintain an Oklahoma residency and the fallen service member must have been an Oklahoma residence when they died.
“When I reviewed the statute and realized Gold Star families were not explicitly named among survivors eligible for education benefits, I knew something needed to be done,” Hildebrant said. “Oklahoma should stand with Gold Star families and ensure every opportunity is available for them to pursue the best education our state has to offer after their loved one gave everything in service of our state and nation.”
Roberts is survived by his wife and daughter.
A Gold Star familiy are those who have lost a loved one in military service. When a blue star representing a service member was replaced with gold, it was to signify a life lost in defense of the nation. The designation has been given since September 11, 2011.
