Any natural father, natural mother, mother through adoption, father through adoption, or spouse of a veteran killed in the line of duty, (also known as a Gold Star Family member) deemed eligible by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who was a resident of the State of Illinois for a continuous period of one year immediately before making application is entitled to admission to any of the Illinois Veterans Homes should vacant beds exist. Preference for filling vacant beds or for filling vacant beds from a waiting list shall be granted first to eligible veterans.