Chapter 266 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 70A. For purposes of this section, the term “military service medal” shall mean any medal or cross awarded to a member of the armed forces of the United States, or a family member thereof, for his or her service in the armed forces, including but not limited to the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Coast Guard Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Medal, and military ribbons. “Military service medal” shall not include citations or commendations.

(b) Whoever steals, or with intent to defraud obtains by a false pretense, or whoever unlawfully, and with intent to steal or embezzle, converts, or secretes with intent to convert, a military service medal of another, whether the medal is or is not in his or her possession at the time of the conversion or secreting, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 3 years for each military service medal that is stolen, converted or secreted.