Nothing in the act to which this act is a supplement shall prevent the issuance, in a municipality, of a new license to sell alcoholic beverages at retail, to a person who, having served honorably in the armed forces of the United States and having held a license of the same class in the municipality, transferred said license to his spouse within the last past fifteen years and having served some time during said fifteen years in the armed forces of the United States, and whose spouse, during his service in the armed forces of the United States, surrendered said license or permitted it to expire; provided, that no license of the same class has been issued in said municipality since the surrender or expiration of said license; and provided further, that such person has filed or shall file his application for a new license within one year from the effective date of this act.
N.J.S. § 33:1-12.22a