Gold Star Mother's Day

What is it?

Sept. 26, 2010 is Gold Star Mother's Day. Every year, the fourth Sunday of September, is for honoring mothers whose sons or daughters died in the line of duty. The name references the single gold star on service flags displayed in the windows of homes that have lost a child to war.

History of Gold Star Mothers
Shortly after World War I the Gold Star Mothers Club was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers that lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives were represented by a gold star.

What is the Army doing?

As requested by the Gold Star Mothers, there are no Pentagon or Army-sponsored events this year. However, on Sunday, Sept. 26, Gold Star Mothers will hold wreath-laying ceremonies at the Vietnam War Memorial and at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. An open house will follow at the Washington, D.C. National Headquarters. Army installations and commands have been encouraged to honor Gold Star Mothers on a day and time appropriate.

Gold Star Mothers website explains the purpose and goals of Gold Star Mothers.

What's the way ahead?

Just as a Gold Star Mother's support continues beyond the life of her child, the Army's support of its mothers also endures. Survivor Outreach Services delivers a coordinated, comprehensive, and standardized program across the force that meets survivors' needs with dedicated resources and a commitment to first class service for as long as the family desires. A compliment of benefit coordinators, financial counselors, and support coordinators addresses survivors' immediate and long-term needs. Among the things the Army does is to provide long-term support throughout the grief process, coordinate support groups, provide information and referral services, and coordinates child care.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army cannot do what it does without the Army family's support. In many cases, family consent is what provides recruits and reenlistments. Army mothers have shown the same determination and resiliency as Army personnel in tolerating deployments and the tragedy that war brings to some families. The Army commemorates Gold Star Mother's Day because mothers across the nation have supported the Army; now, through this recognition and through survivor outreach programs, the Army supports them.

The Army thanks and honors the parents of Soldiers-especially Gold Star Mothers-for supporting their children's call to serve, and for their sacrifice. A grateful nation remembers.

Visit these links for more information

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc