42.315.  Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal and certificate, to whom awarded — application — design. — 1.  There is hereby created within the state adjutant general's office the "Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm Medallion Program".  Every veteran who honorably served on active duty in the United States military service at any time beginning August 7, 1990, and ending June 7, 1991, shall be entitled to receive an Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate of appreciation under this section, provided that:

  (1)  Such veteran is a legal resident of this state or was a legal resident of this state at the time he or she entered or was discharged from military service or at the time of his or her death or such veteran served in a unit of the Missouri National Guard regardless of whether such veteran is or ever was a legal resident of this state; and

  (2)  Such veteran was honorably separated or discharged from military service, is still in active service in an honorable status, or was in active service in an honorable status at the time of his or her death.

  2.  The Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate shall be awarded regardless of whether such veteran served within the United States or in a foreign country.  The medallion, medal, and the certificate shall be awarded regardless of whether such veteran was under eighteen years of age at the time of enlistment.

  3.  The following persons may apply for an Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate under this section:

  (1)  Any veteran who is entitled to an Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate under subsection 1 of this section;

  (2)  Any spouse or eldest living survivor of a deceased veteran who would be entitled to an Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate under subsection 1 of this section but who died prior to having made application for such medallion, medal, and certificate.

  4.  If any spouse or eldest living survivor applies for the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate under this section or if any veteran dies after applying for an Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate under this section and such veteran would have been entitled to the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate, the adjutant general shall give the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate to the spouse or eldest living survivor of the deceased veteran.

  5.  The Missouri veterans' commission shall design the form of the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm medallion, medal, and certificate and forward the approved designs to the adjutant general for distribution pursuant to sections 42.315 to 42.316.  It is the intent of the general assembly to create statewide involvement in the design of these symbols in recognition of this historic endeavor.  Therefore, in designing the forms, the Missouri veterans' commission may solicit potential designs from elementary and secondary schools, veterans' groups, civic organizations, or any other interested parties, and may select the best design from among such solicited designs, or may select another design.

  6.  For purposes of this section, the term "veteran" means any person defined as a veteran by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency.