Notwithstanding the provisions of § 27-73e, the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Adjutant General, shall award a ribbon and medal as described in said section to each member who is a resident of this state and who provides to the Department of Veterans Affairs (1) an affidavit stating (A) when such person served, (B) where such person served, (C) the unit in which such person served, and (D) the capacity in which such person served; (2) any available corroborating witness affidavits; (3) any available official documentation of service; and (4) any other documents supporting such person’s affidavit. As used in this section, “member” means a person who served in the Hmong Laotian special guerilla units, which units served in the United States secret war in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.