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Gold Star Mother's Day
Gold Star Mother’s Day is observed on the last Sunday in September which will be Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. It also seemed appropriate to recognize this special day as part of my Friday Update. Being the mother to my son Tyler is the greatest honor of my life, and so many mothers, and yes fathers too, understand the importance of that statement. Therefore, when I learned about the significance of Gold Star Mother's Day, I had to take time to honor this beautiful recognition. Gold Star Mother’s Day is intended to recognize and honor those mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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.
Gold Star Mother’s Day isn’t observed in quite the same manner as federal holidays such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, or President’s Day, but that does not mean it hasn’t been given official recognition. In 1936, the 74th Congress declared, “the last Sunday in September shall hereafter be designated and known as ‘Gold Star Mother’s Day,’ and it shall be the duty of the President to request its observance as provided for in this resolution.”
Who Are The American Gold Star Mothers?
Based on what I have already written, this might seem like an obvious question, but did you know 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 Mother’s non-profit organization holds an annual convention and have events centered around Gold Star Mother’s Day and Veterans Day. They also partner with Wreath’s 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.
On this very special Sunday, I hope we can all take a moment and thank a mother of sons and/or daughters serving, or who have served, especially those who sacrificed their lives, in the U.S. Armed Forces!
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