OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 2961 , now named the TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa. The measure honors the life and sacrifice of Tech. Sgt. Marshal Dakota Roberts of Claremore, who was killed in action on March 11, 2020. Roberts, a friend of Hildebrant, served in the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, part of the 138th Fighter Wing, where Hildebrant also served. Roberts and his wife, Kristie, were both members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, and Hildebrant shared a friendship with them both through years of service together. "I am grateful my colleagues recognized the weight of this bill, named for a fellow Airman and brother-in-arms who gave his life in service," Hildebrant said. "His family lives with that loss every single day, and this time of year is especially heavy for them. I wear his memorial bracelet in honor of his name and service dates and as a reminder of his sacrifice, and that of so many others, every day. HB2961 provides spouses and children of fallen service members with free tuition, fees and room and board at Oklahoma public universities and career technology centers. Eligible recipients would have to maintain Oklahoma residency, and the fallen service member must have been an Oklahoma resident at the time of death. The Gold Star designation is given to those who lost their lives in the line of duty or in a combat zone since Sept. 11, 2001. Hildebrant, who is the chairman of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Veterans and Public Safety Caucus, said the legislation was driven by both personal conviction and a gap in state law. "When I reviewed the statute and realized Gold Star families were not explicitly named among survivors eligible for education benefits, I knew something needed to be done," Hildebrant said. "Oklahoma should stand with Gold Star families and ensure every opportunity is available for them to pursue the best education our state has to offer after their loved one gave everything in service of our state and nation." Roberts is survived by his wife and daughter, who was 8 years old at the time of his death. Hildebrant says that the TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts Gold Star Survivor Act is about standing beside families like theirs and ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. "I made a promise to Marshal’s family that his name would never be forgotten," Hildebrant said. "Today, we were able to make good on that promise. TSgt Marshal Dakota Roberts’ name will live on through the benefits it provides to every Oklahoma Gold Star family." Hildebrant said his role was to also support the family in the aftermath of Roberts’ death. "At the time of Marshal’s death, I was assigned by the Wing Commander to serve as the family’s representative, and I walked with them every step of the way, even to the point of preaching Marshal’s funeral," Hildebrant said. "One of the hardest moments of my life was speaking with his 8-year-old daughter. I told her that her dad was a hero, but he is not coming home. That moment has never left me." A Gold Star family refers to those who have lost a loved one in military service. The term comes from service flags used during World War I, when a blue star representing a service member was replaced with gold to signify a life lost in defense of the nation. "I was proud the bill was heard on the anniversary of Marshal’s death, because it serves as a solemn reminder of the weight of this sacrifice and the responsibility we carry to honor it," Hildebrant said. "If we, as the legislature, can lift even a small part of that burden by ensuring their children can pursue an education and a future, then we are doing what is right." The bill now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, also a member of the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing, is the Senate author. "This effort continues our service to Marshal and his family," Hildebrant said. "As brothers in arms, we have the duty to carry this bill forward and see it through to the Governor."