The Biloxi Lighthouse, the city’s signature landmark, will be featured on Mississippi license plates issued beginning Oct. 1.
The design, which by law changes every five years, was chosen by the License Tag Commission, which consists of the governor, state treasurer, attorney general and state tax commissioner.
Said Joe Blount, state commissioner of revenue: “This tag design is intended to be a reminder to us of all those who lost so much from Katrina, to serve as a symbol of our citizens’ commitment to recovery as well as a symbol of our gratitude to all Americans for their prayers and generous support.”
The Biloxi Lighthouse has long been recognized as a landmark of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a sentinel erected in 1848 to aid ships navigating the Mississippi Sound. Throughout its 159 years, it has survived a score of hurricanes, including the great storms of 1947 and 1969.
“And on August 29, 2005,” the state said in a release, “it stood defiant against the wind and surge of Katrina. Today, it is no longer just a beacon to seafarers, but a tangible testament of resilience. The Biloxi Lighthouse stands proud and tall representing those who weathered the storm.”
To see a larger image of the new plate, click here.