Gold Star Mother's Day in the United States

Maj Marty Hogan roger that, a solid read and share, great recognition for Gold Star Mothers Day.

TSgt Joe C. SFC William Farrell PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC Stephen F.] SGT Robert George SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" ThomasMSG Andrew White SGT (Join to see) SFC Dave Beran SGT Philip Roncari SPC Margaret Higgins MSgt Jason McClish SrA Christopher Wright SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM SP5 Michael Rathbun SGT Michael Thorin SFC Shirley Whitfield SSG Diane R.

Maj Marty Hogan, I've posted this photo on RP on previous Gold Star Mothers' Days and today will be no exception. It's one of the most poignant photos I've seen. You can see the sadness in this mother's face. It's profoundly moving. The narrative is from an OCS buddy of mine. "I was unable to hold back the tears at the Birmingham Veterans Day parade as I watched the Gold Star Mothers go by holding large pictures of their sons that gave it all." LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth Sgt Steven Thomas

Thanks for reminding us that the powers that be declared Sunday September 24, 2017 to be Gold Star Mother's Day Maj Marty Hogan
Image: Gold Star lapel button
All gave some while many gave all.
REMEMBER THE FALLEN and REMEMBER THEIR FAMILIR MEMBERS in your prayers.

Here is some background on The Gold Star Family and Gold Star Mother history
"American Gold Star families are immediate relatives of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been killed in combat or in support of certain military activities.
The U.S. Department of Defense issues Gold Star Lapel Buttons to immediate family members of a fallen member of the military. The pins, featuring a gold star on a purple circular background, are worn by spouses, parents and children of service members killed in the line of duty.
Some families display flags with a gold star emblem, indicating a family member has been killed in a military operation. A flag with two gold stars, for example, shows two service members from a particular family were killed.
Some families choose to display the banners, also known as service flags, throughout the year as a solemn tribute to their fallen family members. The rectangular flags are white, bordered in red, with a gold star overlapping a larger blue star.
The flags were initially flown by families during World War I between 1914 to 1918.
Just after World War I, the Gold Star Mother's Club was formed to support mothers who lost children in the war.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was founded in 1929 by congressional charter. Twenty-five mothers living in Washington, D.C., were original members of the group, which expanded throughout the country.
In 1936, the United States started annually recognizing mothers of fallen service members by observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September.
The Gold Star Wives organization was established before World War II ended in 1945. The pin worn by grieving family members, called the Gold Star Lapel Button, was introduced in 1947.
From voanews.com/a/what-is-a-gold-star-american-family/3444224.html

"AGSM headquarters is located at 2128 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008; a pleasant street with residences and some embassies and consulates nearby. The neighbors are friendly and watch our building when we're not there.
Headquarters was purchased in April 1954 for $25,000 during the presidency of Elise C. Nielsen. President Nielsen was principally responsible for the headquarters project; searching out real estate for sale and eventually loaning the down payment money to AGSM in order to buy the Leroy Street property. She was eventually repaid in September of 1955. The house was formerly owned by the nearby Episcopal church and used by the pastor as a residence.
Keeping the property maintained is a constant activity. In 2005 we installed a new kitchen on the ground floor. In 2007 we installed central air conditioning which is much appreciated by the moms when they visit in the hot summer months.
The latest improvements were the refinishing of the hardwood floors on the first floor and replacing of the carpet on the second and third floors in 2016-17."
http://www.goldstarmoms.com/

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT (Join to see) SGT Michael Thorin SGT John " Mac " McConnell