New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the immediate expansion of a program that provides free college tuition and related costs for Gold Star families.
On Wednesday, Cuomo said he directed the Higher Education Services Corporation to broaden the interpretation for New York’s Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship.
The scholarship is now available for all children, spouses, and financial dependents of U.S. Armed Forces members who died, become severely or permanently disabled or missing in action while performing their military duties.
Under the previous interpretation, only the children, spouses, and financial dependents of veterans killed in a combat zone were eligible for the scholarship.
New York honors the sacrifices of Gold Star families in words and in deeds
In a statement, Cuomo said, “Military service is more than just the active military member. I believe the entire family is in service, and we will honor that sacrifice and respect that service not just in words, not just with symbols, but with deeds.
