(a) In addition to any other special license plate, the Secretary, upon receipt of all applicable fees and applications made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue Cold War license plates to residents of Illinois who served in the United States Armed Forces between August 15, 1945 and January 1, 1992. The special Cold War plates issued under this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division, motorcycles, and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. Plates issued under this Section shall expire according to the staggered multi-year procedure established by Section 3-414.1 of this Code.
     (b) The design, color, and format of the 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 plates or personalized in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. The plates are not required to designate “Land of Lincoln”, as prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 3-412 of this Code. The Secretary shall, in his or her discretion, approve and prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412.