The Secretary, upon receipt of an application made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall issue special registration plates to any Illinois resident who has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by a branch of the armed forces of the United States. The Secretary, upon receipt of the proper application, shall also issue these special registration plates to an Illinois resident who is the surviving spouse of a person who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by a branch of the armed forces of the United States. The special plates issued under this Section should be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division, including motorcycles, or motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.
     The design and color of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. Appropriate documentation, as determined by the Secretary, and the appropriate registration fee shall accompany the application. However, for an individual who has been issued Distinguished Service Cross plates for a vehicle and who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, the annual fee for the registration of the vehicle shall be as provided in Section 3-806.3 of this Code.