Any person who has served and was honorably discharged or currently serves in any branch of the United States Armed Forces or reserves, the United States Coast Guard or reserve, the United States Merchant Marines or reserve or the Missouri National Guard, or any subdivision of any of such services or a member of the United States Marine Corps League may apply for special motor vehicle license plates, either solely or jointly, for issuance either to passenger motor vehicles subject to the registration fees provided in section 301.055, or to nonlocal property-carrying commercial motor vehicles licensed for a gross weight of six thousand pounds up through and including twenty-four thousand pounds as provided in section 301.057. Any such person shall make application for the special license plates on a form provided by the director of revenue and furnish such proof that such person is a member or former member of any such branch of service as the director may require. Upon presentation of the proof of eligibility and annual payment of the fee required for personalized license plates in section 301.144, and other fees and documents which may be required by law, the department shall issue personalized license plates which shall bear the seal, logo or emblem, along with a word or words designating the branch or subdivision of such service for which the person applies. All seals, logos, emblems or special symbols shall become an integral part of the license plate; however, no plate shall contain more than one seal, logo, emblem or special symbol and the design of such plates shall be approved by the advisory committee established in section 301.129^* and by the branch or subdivision of such service or the Marine Corps League prior to issuing such plates. The plates shall have a white background with a blue and red configuration at the discretion of the advisory committee established in section 301.129^*. The plates shall be clearly visible at night and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. The bidding process used to select a vendor for the material to manufacture the license plates authorized by this section shall consider the aesthetic appearance of the plate. The director of revenue shall make necessary rules and regulations for the enforcement of this section, and shall design all necessary forms. All license plates issued under this provision must be renewed in accordance with law. License plates issued under the provisions of this section shall not be transferable to any other person, except that any registered co-owner of the motor vehicle shall be entitled to operate the motor vehicle for the duration of the year licensed, in the event of the death of the qualified applicant.