The first 25 gold-star license plates, available to the parents of people who died while in the armed services, were unveiled Friday at the Capitol in Olympia.

Gold-star plate No. 24 went to Jeff Norton of Rainier, in memory of his son.

Army Sgt. Justin Norton was killed overseas June 24, 2006. His father, a Thurston County sheriff’s deputy, signed up for the new license plate “just so people know the sacrifices that families make.”

The gold star – like dog tags and the boots, the helmet and the rifle used in memorial services – has a special meaning to military parents, said Myra Rintamacki, president of Washington State Gold Star Mothers.

She and others at the ceremony said they hoped the public would come to recognize the plates as a reminder that a soldier’s death affects more than one person.

Dean and Annette Howard of Yacolt, Clark County, were on hand to pick up a plate on behalf of their son Bryce, who died Aug. 28, 2007, in Afghanistan.

“It’s just really, really important to us that our sons are not forgotten – anything to recognize their sacrifice,” said Annette Howard.

Nearly 100 state residents have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, said state Department of Veterans Affairs director John Lee.

“We are making more and more contact with literally all” of the families, he said. “Is it possible one or two may opt not to enjoy this wonderful symbol and thanks? Yes. But they were certainly be available to any Washington state parent who has lost a son or daughter in war.”

Rintamacki and Norton said they hope the plates can be given to other relatives in the future, such as siblings and spouses.

There are extra fees for most specialty license plates in Washington, but not for the gold-star plates.