Gold Star Mother’s Day
Gold Star Mother’s Day is a holiday observed on the last Sunday in September. The purpose of this holiday is to honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
United States (Observance)It’s a day on which Americans can recognize these mothers’ sacrifices for the country and give them the proper measure of love, appreciation, and reverence for their loss. It’s 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 in service to the country.
The History of Gold Star Mother’s Day
The Gold Star is a symbol that began during WWI and has continued ever since. In 1917, American families began to hang banners with blue stars on them. These banners represented the family members they had in service to the country. If their family member died during service, they would then change these blue stars to gold ones.
When World War I ended, Gold Star Mothers began to organize, and by 1928, they had incorporated. The following year, they applied for and received a federal charter from the U.S. Congress.
This group began in Washington, D.C., and then expanded to other parts of the U.S. Gold Star Mother’s Day has been celebrated annually every year to commemorate the sacrifice of mothers who have lost a son or daughter while in the U.S. Armed Forces.
On June 23, 1936, a Congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day. This day has since been proclaimed by every American president since then.
The History of Gold Star Mother’s Membership
When the organization American Gold Star Mothers was initially founded, it was restricted to those parents who had lost a son or daughter during World War I. This was later expanded to include the mothers of members who lost children in World War II, and then the Korean War.
It was eventually expanded to include the mothers of fallen service members, regardless of where they served or whether they served during wartime. Membership in the organization was opened in 2005 to also accept non-citizens as members.
Observing Gold Star Mother’s Day
This day is observed all across the U.S. and in U.S. possessions all over the world with luncheons, teas, and ceremonies specifically crafted for the day. It’s a day on which people remember those who have fallen while serving in the military, and a variety of service organizations hold ceremonies to remember them.
It’s also a day on which officials and public representatives talk about the importance of remembering those who have served and the families who still grieve for their fallen loved ones.
United States (Observance)
