Why The Gold Star
The Gold Star is a symbol of a loved one lost in combat.
According to an L.A. Times article, During World War I, a practice developed across the country: Families displayed flags featuring a blue star, a sign that a family member was fighting in the war. Some flags would display more than one star.
The exact origins of this tradition are not fully known, but at some point, gold star flags would go up to signify the family member had died on duty. The term Gold Star Family went into the national vocabulary thanks to the sacrifices of men and women serving in uniform.
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History Of Membership Criteria
Membership in American Gold Star Mothers was originally restricted to those who lost sons or daughters in World War I, and was later expanded to include mothers of those lost in World War II, then the Korean War, and then other specific conflicts. Today, the membership criteria do not consider the place or time of the military service and do not consider whether the circumstances of the death involved hostile conflict or not, and also allow membership for mothers of those missing in action.
For the first 77 years of its existence, AGSM restricted its membership criteria to admit only U.S. citizens. As a way to create pressure to change the rule, an application for admission was submitted in 2005 that deliberately highlighted the applicant’s lack of citizenship. The application, from Ligaya Lagman, a Filipinopermanent resident of the United States living in Yonkers, New York, who had been living in the U.S. more than 20 years and whose son, Marine Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004 at the age of 26, was rejected in May 2005. In the next month after that incident, which received a “firestorm” of publicity that included negative commentary by New York U.S. RepresentativeEliot Engel and New York U.S. SenatorHillary Rodham Clinton, the group agreed on June 27, 2005, to change its membership criteria, and it accepted its first two non-citizens as members a few months later in early September 2005.
Gold Star Mothers And Familys Day History
American Gold Star Mothers Inc. // Copyright https://www.goldstarmoms.com/
Shortly after World War I, the Gold Star Mothers Club was formed to provide support for mothers who lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of service members hanging a Service Flag in their windows. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military embroidered on it. Living service members were represented by a blue star and those who were killed in action were represented by a gold star.
Gold Star Mothers Day has been observed each year since 1936 by presidential proclama
tion, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt and continuing through to the present day. Beginning in 2009, the last Sunday in September, originally designated as Gold Star Mothers Day, is now designated as Gold Star Mothers and Familys Day by
an annual presidential proclamation.
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Donate To An Organization That Supports Gold Star Mothers And Families
Many organizations are dedicated to supporting Gold Star Mothers and Families emotionally and with other benefits. Specifically for mothers, you can donate to the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. Other organizations to consider are Snowball Express and fallenpatriots.org, but do your own research and determine where your money is best donated.
Who Are The American Gold Star Mothers
Based on the above, this might seem like an obvious question to some, but Gold Star families have had a non-profit organization working on their behalf since 1928 with the establishment of an organization called American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Their mission includes education, remembrance, inspiring true allegiance to the United States of America, and most importantly for many, offering needful assistance to all Gold Star Mothers and, when possible, to their descendants.
The Gold Star Mothers non-profit organization holds an annual convention and have events centered around Gold Star Mothers Day and Veterans Day. They also partner with Wreaths Across America where each December they work together to coordinate wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1,200 locations in the U.S. and abroad.
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Current Membership And Charter
The AGSM is a private 501 nonprofit organization that sets its own rules for who is allowed to become a member. The current charter, held under Title 36 § 211 of the United States Code, was established on June 12, 1984.
Today, membership in American Gold Star Mothers is open to any woman who was a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or its Territories or Insular Possessions at the time their child was inducted into military service and whose child has died or has become missing in action while in the United States Armed Forces . Membership is not contingent on whether the child was killed in action or on the theater of operation or the time period of the service . Non-adoptive stepmothers are also eligible for membership if they assumed responsibility for the child before the age of fifteen and raised them. Husbands and children of Gold Star Mothers are eligible to join as Associate Members. Honorary membership is available to mothers who were not citizens or legal residents at the time their child was inducted. Associate Members and Honorary Members cannot vote or hold official positions .
AGSM is made up of local chapters, which are organized into departments. Five members are required to start a local chapter. If no local chapter is available, a woman may join the organization as a member at large.
Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team
The Soldiers Angels Living Legends Team was created to offer comfort to families of service members who have fallen in the performance of their military duties. This team has a very delicate task and often supports Gold Star Mothers and their families. The Living Legends Team sends personalized sympathy cards to grieving families to convey our compassion and heavy hearts. In addition, they send a Gold Star and a letter to the family, submit the fallen heros name to PlantMemorialTree.com, and send a remembrance booklet during the holidays. Heres a story we did on one of our Living Legends Team Angel members, who happens to be a Gold Star Mother: Meet Toni Gross, a Gold Star Mother and much, much more!
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Gold Star Mothers Membership
Membership to this organization again opened after World War II and the Korean War. Today, membership is open via application to any natural, adopted, or step mother whos child lost their life as a result of military service. Gold Star fathers, siblings, and grandparents are also able to join as associate members.
Is Gold Star Mothers Day An Official Holiday
Gold Star Mothers Day isnt observed in quite the same manner as federal holidays such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, or Presidents Day, but that does not mean it hasnt been given official recognition.
In 1936, the 74th Congress declared, the last Sunday in September shall hereafter be designated and known as Gold Star Mothers Day, and it shall be the duty of the President to request its observance as provided for in this resolution.
In 2016, President Barack Obama proclaimed that Sept. 25, 2016 was to be known as Gold Star Mothers and Familys Day, a continuation of this long-standing tradition: I call upon all Government officials to display the flag of the United States over Government buildings on this special day. I also encourage the American people to display the flag and hold appropriate ceremonies as a public expression of our Nations gratitude and respect for our Gold Star Mothers and Families.
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How ‘gold Star’ Came To Be
The tradition of the Gold Star began during World War II. During the early days of the war, a blue star was used on service flags and hung in homes and businesses to represent each living active-duty member. As men were killed in combat, the gold star was superimposed on the blue star to honor the person for his ultimate sacrifice to the country. Eventually, the mothers of those fallen service members became known as Gold Star Mothers, and their families Gold Star Families.
How Gold Star Mothers Day Got Started
Starting in 1936, the United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September. At the end of World War II, Gold Star Wives was formed. Today, the tradition extends to all family members. This is a day we recognize the pain, grief and sacrifice mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters must endure when a loved one dies in service to our nation.
Our military families serve this country alongside our military heroes. They provide support while their loved ones are away, they raise families in the absence of their partners, and they pick up the pieces when their loved one is killed or injured in the line of duty.
If you are a Gold Star Mother or Family, we honor your sacrifice and thank you for your service. If you know a Gold Star Mother or Family, please take time today to recognize them.
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Gold Star Mothers And Family Day
Gold Star Mothers Day was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1936 and is celebrated on the last Sunday in September every year. Recently, the day of recognition was designated Gold Star Mothers and Family Day to honor all who have lost a child, grandchild, or sibling as a result of their military service.
Americanism: Gold Star Mothers And Familys Day
Justine Robles2020-2021 National Americanism Ambassador
The Program Year is moving very quickly, and we are all trying to get as much work done as possible for our veterans within the Covid-19 guidelines. We have many challenges, but we are strong Americans and we will succeed!
The month of September is a month I consider to be very patriotic as its a month in which we commemorate three important days.
- Patriot Day, which was on September 11, is a day to remember all that perished in the attacks on America that day. We showed our strength as a nation in the days that followed as we pulled together to help one another.
- POW/MIA Recognition Day, which was on September 18, is a day that honors the commitments and sacrifices made by our nations prisoners of war and those still missing in action. This is a day we remember those Americans who gave of themselves.
- Gold Star Mothers and Familys Day. Observed the last Sunday in September , this day is very near and dear to my heart, and honors mothers and families who have a lost their service member in the line of duty or in support of military activities.
Gold Star Mothers and Familys Day History
On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mothers Day and it is proclaimed annually by each president. In 2011, President Barack Obama amended the day to Gold Star Mothers and Familys Day.
How to Honor and Recognize Them
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Proclamation By The President Of The United States
Whereas the preamble to Public Resolution 123, 74th Congress, approved June 23, 1936 , recites:Whereas the service rendered the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the Countrys strength and inspiration and “Whereas we honor ourselves and the mothers of America when we revere and give emphasis to the home as the fountainhead of the State and”Whereas the American mother is doing so much for the home and for the moral and spiritual uplift of the people of the United States and hence so much for good government and humanity and”Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers suffered the supreme sacrifice of motherhood in the loss of their sons and daughters in World Wars”and Whereas the said Public Resolution 12 provides:”That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the Government officials to display the United States flag on all Government buildings, and the people of the United States to display the flag and to hold appropriate meetings in their homes, churches, or other suitable places, on the last Sunday in September, as public expression of the love, sorrow and reverence of the people of the United States for the American Gold Star Mothers.””Sec. 2. That the last Sunday in September shall hereafter be designated and known as “Gold Star Mothers Day,” and it shall be the duty of the President to request its observance as provided for in this resolution.”
American Gold Star Mothers History
Grace Darling Seibold volunteered much of her time during WWI visiting stateside military hospitals. She provided a friendly face as well as a comforting presence, easing the pain of the many servicemen who returned with injuries. She did this not just for their benefit, but for her own as well. Grace said goodbye to her 23 year old son, George, when he left to take an aviation assignment in France just as the United States entered the war in 1917. By early 1918, letters from George stopped arriving, and in October the Seibold family received the terrible news that he had lost his life almost a year before.
Grace, fearing the self-destruction that can come with grief, devoted her time and efforts to working in the hospitals and extending a hand of friendship to other mothers whose sons lost their lives in military service. She organized a group of these special mothers, and together they provided loving care to hospitalized veterans far from their homes and their own mothers.
She named her organization after the Gold Star Service Flag that families displayed in honor of a deceased veteran. Ten years later, twenty-five mothers met in Washington, DC to establish the national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
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Proclamation 10455gold Star Mother’s And Family’s Day 2022
A Proclamation
Today and always, we honor the families of American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our lives and our liberties. Let us remember the heroes they lost, share in their grief, and support them as they navigate life without their loved ones by their sides.
The world teaches us time and again that peace is never guaranteed and that the blessings of a free society can never be taken for granted. As we again see the advance of authoritarianism around the globe, our Nation’s service members continue to preserve and defend an idea rooted in freedom and democracy: the idea of the United States of America. They answer duty’s call, prepared to sacrifice everything to keep our country safe and our fundamental principles strong and secure.
At every step, the families of these patriots share in the sacrificetheir service too often unseen, their heroism too often unsung. Military service often requires loved ones to celebrate life’s milestones apart, parents to raise children alone, and partners to forgo each other’s wisdom, comfort, and love when it is needed most. Deployments can bring uncertainty and fearsomething my family has experienced firsthand. And for those who receive that devastating newsthat their loved one is not returning homelife is never the same.
The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 , has designated the last Sunday in September as “Gold Star Mother’s Day.”
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
What Do People Do
Each year on Gold Star Mother’s Day the United States president calls on all Americans to display the nation’s flag and hold appropriate meetings to publicly express their love, sorrow, and reverence towards Gold Star Mothers and their families. Government buildings are also required to display the flag.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is an organization of mothers whose sons or daughters served and died while serving their nation in times of war or conflict. It organizes major events that take place on or around Gold Star Mothers Day each year. Previous activities included a Gold Star flower wreath laying service, as well as an afternoon tour of President Lincolns cottage in Washington DC.
The last Sunday in September is also Parents of Fallen Military Sons and Daughters Day in New Jersey. This day is a tribute to all parents whose children died as a result of their service with the United States Armed Forces. It commemorates the contributions, commitments and sacrifices made by those parents individually and through the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
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Gold Star Mothers Day
Gold Star Mothers Day is a holiday thats observed on the last Sunday in the month of September. The purpose of this holiday is to honor those who have lost a son or daughter while they were serving in the U.S Armed Forces. Its a day on which Americans can recognize these mothers sacrifices to the country and give them the proper measure of love, appreciation, and reverence for their loss. Its also a day on which all Americans can take a moment to think about the sacrifices of all families who have lost a son or daughter while they were in service to the country.
Gold Star Family Day Proclamation
Gold Star Mother’s Day has been observed each year since 1936 by presidential proclamationbeginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt and continuing through to the present day. Starting in 2009, the last Sunday in Septemberoriginally designated as “Gold Star Mother’s Day”is now designated as “Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day” by an annual presidential proclamation.
The Governor of each state also has the option to observe Gold Star Family Day with a proclamation of their own. We urge the citizens of states without a proclamation to contact their Governor’s office to request one. If your state already has a proclamation, please contact our office so we can include your state’s proclamation on this page!
The following is the 2020 presidential proclamation issued by the President of the United States.
A Proclamation
Today, and every day, we hold in our hearts those who have answered the knock on the door, accepted the flag folded with precision, said their final farewell, and borne the absence of their fallen hero. Gold Star Families deserve our utmost respect, admiration, and support for their tenacity and resilience, and for the work they do to preserve the memory of those who gave their lives to our Nation.
The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 , has designated the last Sunday in September as “Gold Star Mothers Day.”
Florida
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