SECTION 67A. Medal of liberty

There shall be a medal of liberty which shall be awarded to the next of kin of service men and women from the commonwealth killed in action or who died in service while in a designated combat area in the line of duty or who died as a result of wounds received in action. The adjutant general and 2 field grade officers of the armed forces of the commonwealth detailed by the adjutant general shall constitute a commission to make recommendations to the commander-in-chief for the awarding of the medal of liberty. If a fallen service member from the commonwealth who qualifies for the medal of liberty has no surviving spouse, children, siblings or parents, such service member's next closest surviving relative including, but not limited to, any nephews or nieces, shall be eligible for the medal of liberty.