An Honor No One Wants: What is aGoldStarFamily and How is it different from a BlueStarFamily?
Service members don’t serve alone. In 2015, there was a reported total of 1,728,710 family members who served alongside their Active Duty service member. Of that number, there were 1,076,803 children and 641,639 spouses. Whether you live in a prevalent military community or not, chances are you know a family member of someone that serves in the Armed Forces. That’s why you should know what a Blue andGoldStarfamily are and how they are different.
What is a BlueStarFamily?
A BlueStarFamily consists of the immediate family member(s) of a service member during a time of conflict.
How do you recognize a BlueStarFamily?
A BlueStarFamily can display a BlueStarService Flag. The number of bluestars on the flag corresponds to with the number of individuals who currently serve in the Armed Forces from that immediate family.
Who created BlueStarService Flag?
The BlueStarService Flag was patented and designed by WWI Army Captain Robert L. Queisser who, at the time, had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service.
What is aGoldStarFamily?
AGoldStarFamily is the immediate family member(s) of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict.
How do you recognize aGoldStarFamily?
AGoldStarFamily can display aGoldStarService Flag for service members who were killed or died, while serving in the Armed Forces, from causes other than dishonorable. The number ofgoldstars on the flag corresponds to with the number of individuals who were killed or died. Agoldstaris placed over the bluestaron a BlueStarService Flag so that the blue forms a border and createsGoldStarService Flag. The U.S. Department of Defense also issuesGoldStarlapel pins to immediate family members of a fallen service member of the military. These pins are worn by spouses, parents, and children of service members killed in the line of duty and contain agoldstaron a purple circular background.
Who created theGoldStarService Flag?
President Wilson authorized a suggestion made by the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses, thatmotherswho had lost a child who served in the war could wear a traditional black mourning armband with agoldgiltstarin 1918. This approval led to the tradition of agoldstarcovering the bluestaron the Service flag to show that the service member had passed. It’s believed Wilson coined the term “GoldStarMother.”
More about the service flag: The Congressional Act 36 U.S.C. 179-182 of 1967 officially authorized the Service Flag.
The Congressional Act 36 U.S.C. 179-182 of 1967 officially authorized the Service Flag.
Who can display a Service Flag?
The Department of Defense specifies that immediate family members authorized to display the flag include: spouses, parents, children, siblings, stepparents, stepchildren, stepsiblings, half-siblings, adopted parents, adopted children and adopted siblings of a United States service member. The flag can be displayed in the authorized residence’s window.
The Service flag can also be displayed by an organization to honor the service members of that organization serving during a period of hostilities or war.
In addition to the Gold Star Service Flag, the Gold Star Lapel established in 1947 can be displayed by Gold Star family members.
Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day
Since June 23rd, 1936, after the passage of a joint congressional resolution, our nation has recognized the last Sunday of September as Gold Star Mother’s Day. Amended in 2011, President Barack Obama included the recognition of all Gold Star family members on this day.
How does Hope honor and serve Blue andGoldStarFamilies?
Hope For The Warriors offers programs, to help service members, veterans, and military families, which includes Blue andGoldStarFamilies. These programs aim towards restoring a sense of self, family, and hope by focusing on transition, health and well-being, peer engagement, and connections to community resources. In 2016 alone, Hope For The Warriors served 55GoldStarFamilies, which included honoring 24GoldStarFamily Members at a NASCAR race through our Drive For Hope Program.
What can you do to Honor Blue andGoldStarFamilies?
Since the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have been ongoing for many years, people forget too soon the meaning of Blue andGoldStarFamilies. By recognizing the significance of a Blue orGoldStarService Flag and aGoldStarlapel pin you can honor those who have survived, whether it’s a parent, spouse, or child. This knowledge and recognition is important to honor the families of the Fallen and those who are deployed.
