Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day is observed on the last Sunday in September. Also known as National Gold Star Mother’s Day, it honors the mothers and families of fallen military service members. The observance began during World War I and was created to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter who served our country in the Armed Forces. On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day and proclaimed annually by each president.
The history of National Gold Star Mother’s Day and their families begins with the U.S. entering WW1. An Army Captain Robert L. Queasier, whose two sons were serving on the front-line, created what is now called the Service Flag. The flag was displayed (normally hung in a window) with a blue star to represent a child serving in the military during times of war or hostilities. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of someone in the family in the service.
A Gold Star Family is the immediate family member of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. A Gold Star Family can display a Gold Star Service Flag for service members who were killed or died, while serving in the Armed Forces, from causes other than dishonorable. The number of gold stars on the flag corresponds to with the number of individuals who were killed or died. A gold star is placed over the blue star on a Blue Star Service Flag so that the blue forms a border and creates Gold Star Service Flag. The U.S. Department of Defense also issues Gold Star lapel pins to immediate family members of a fallen service member of the military. These pins can be worn by spouses, parents, and children of service members killed in the line of duty and contain a gold star on a purple circular background.
The Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses ask President Wilson to authorize that mothers who had lost a child who served in the war could wear a traditional black mourning armband with a gold gilt star in 1918. This approval led to the tradition of a gold star covering the blue star on the Service flag to show that the service member had passed. It’s is also believed that Wilson coined the term “Gold Star Mother.”
George Washington once said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” I believe this is also true when it comes to our veterans and families of the fallen. There are many groups and organization out there that help the family’s, but nothing will replace the fallen service member. But being involved with the family and helping those organizations is an amazing way to stay connected to your brothers and sisters that are gone.
Later this week on Tuesday the 29th is St Michaels day. In the Christian, Jewish and Islamic he is known for leading gods’ arms against satan. He is not really a saint but an archangel. In medieval Christianity he was made a patron saint of chivalry, now he is considered the patron saint of Law Enforcement, Military and Paramedics (technically medics also have/ lean towards St Luke and St Albert). Please take a minute or two on Tuesday and say thank you for having people that will do those jobs. Even if it is just saying it in your mind to yourself.
