The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made on the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue special registration plates to United States citizens, who are present or former members of the United States armed forces or any of its allies, and who were prisoners of war of World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnamese conflict, or to the widowed spouse of a former member of the United States armed forces, providing that widowed spouse was married to the POW at the time of death, and is a single person at the time of application. The special plates issued pursuant to this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division subject to the staggered registration system, motorcycles, and vehicles of the second division having a gross weight of 8,000 pounds or less and shall be issued without charge. Only one set of plates may be issued at no fee.
     The design and color of the prisoner of war plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity or personalized plates in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code.