On receipt of an application therefor and presentation of written evidence that the applicant is a member of the Special Forces Association, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates. The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of § 46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section. No license plates provided for in this section shall be issued unless and until the Commissioner receives at least 50 prepaid applications therefor and payment of a one-time fee of $3,500, less the total amount of $10 annual fees collected from the prepaid applications received. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.