The "star" tradition began in WWI when white Service Flags were displayed from homes, business, schools and churches to indicate, by the use of a blue star, each active service member in the U.S. Military. A gold star stitched over a blue star showed the nation those who had given their lives for their country and the devotion and pride of those left behind. This tradition continued through WWII.
In May 1918, President Woodrow Wilson approved the suggestion of the Women's Committee of National Defenses that American women wear a black band on the upper left arm adorned with a gold star representing a family member who had given his or her life for their country. This was suggested in lieu of conventional mourning attire.
Pres. Wilson used the term "Gold Star Mother" for the first time in his Letter to the Women's Committee. The Gold Stars not only signified the supreme sacrifice made by the deceased, but they also honor the family of the fallen hero.
Mothers of slain servicemen came to be known as "Gold Star Mothers."
Gold Star Mothers
Gold Star Mom Angelia Phillips: Happy 100th Birthday Mr. John Finn
by Gold Star MothersYou may not know who Mr. John Finn is, but you should. He is one of the true heroes who live among us. Today Mr. Finn turned 100-years-old. To simply live to that age may, to some, be an accomplishment in itself but to know who this man is and what he has done should amaze and humble you even more.
On Dec 7th 1941 many Heroes were made. John Finn received the Medal of Honor for his bravery on that day. He says he doesn’t deserve it and simply holds it for all the others who fought and died that December day. I disagree. On that December morning John held his position firing on the enemy for over two hours even though he himself had been hit 21 times. Several of his wounds were serious. Once the skies were quiet he sought medical help only after being ordered to. He then returned to help rearm the remaining airplanes at Kanoehe Bay. Because Kanoehe was hit five minutes before Pearl Harbor, many believe that John Finn is the first man to earn the Medal of Honor during WW2. But when you sit and listen to his stories he will tell you of his men, not of himself. Even at 100-years-old his mind is sharp and he loves to share his stories with those who will listen. And if you get the chance to meet Mr. Finn, listen to his stories for they are truly amazing. (more…)
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Debbie Lee: Americans Celebrate Michael Jackson, Ignore Troops
by Gold Star MothersI’m sitting at the desk in my hotel room after just completing our eight hour Troopathon at the Reagan Library. I’ve gone over and over in my head trying to figure out why this year, even though we had a better set, added celebrities to our line-up, and had better media coverage, our final funds raised to support the troops were half of last year’s.
I turned on the TV and clicked through the channels trying to find coverage of our event. I had heard earlier in the day that Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett both had died. As I clicked through the channels, I found every single channel had coverage of Michael Jackson’s death, even Fox News.
As I am not an “Idol” worshipper, it always amazes me how engulfed people can get in the lives of celebrities. I had an “ah hah” moment and realized that could be part of the reason our event was not as successful as we had hoped. We had lost viewers to the “Breaking News.” (more…)
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Gold Star Mother: Debbie Lee
by Gold Star MothersA Mighty Warrior Willingly Sacrifices His Life
Aug 2, 2006, would be a day that would completely change my life forever. On that dreadful day I heard the disparaging words, “We’re sorry to inform you that your son Marc Alan Lee was killed in action in Iraq.” Just typing those words now brings me to tears. I would learn in the hours that followed of the heroic actions of my son and that he chose to sacrifice his life so that others could live.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A. Lee
Marc was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq. As a mother you would love for your child to aspire to many firsts. The first man on the moon, the first doctor to transplant a heart, the first man to fly, but not the first SEAL to give his life defending his buddies in Iraq. Yet I am just as proud of him as I would be for any other first he may have accomplished. I miss him very deeply, but it gives me great comfort knowing he gave his life because he valued others lives as more important than his own. (more…)
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Gold Star Mother: Deborah Tainsh
by Gold Star MothersBetrayed by Liberal Hollywood
Psychologists say that a parent’s grief over the death of a child is “the most difficult loss to endure and surely among the most difficult to integrate into one’s life” because our children are an enormous part of our legacy, and “in their deaths, a large part of our own future dies.” The natural order of our lives has been turned upside down, bringing on an emotional chaos.
For the parents of military men and women who have died after volunteering to serve their country and walking into the face of death in the 21st century’s war on terror, this grief and chaos has been exponentially multiplied by liberal Hollywood. But one has to actually walk this path to understand it. The anti-war sentiment and films that have spewed from liberal actors, producers, and directors have burdened our hearts unspeakably as they have served only to aide the greatest enemy our country has ever faced and to deface and demoralize the greatest ambassadors our country has: the men and women who wear the uniforms of the United States military. (more…)
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Gold Star Mom: Debbie Argel-Bastian
by Gold Star MothersTo Hollywood
Logan is trying to understand, but he is only four. His father’s plane went down in Iraq on Memorial Day of 2008. When asked about his dad, he puts his hand on his heart and says, “My daddy is a hero.” He goes to get his toy tool kit. He is going to fix the plane so that daddy can come home. Logan loves to hear the stories from the small group of Combat Controllers that knew his dad. Soon, a book will be out for him. The book is called “Letters for Logan.” It will tell the story of the soldier and the man. Logan is too young to understand the anger, bitterness, poor timing and judgment of Hollywood, California. Logan is not alone. On the plane that carried five good men to heaven that day, six children lost their dads. There are over 700 children of fallen Spec Ops Warriors to date.
The soldier is my son, Capt. Derek Argel. In the sixth grade, he made a decision that to serve God, Country and family was a privilege and not a right. He understood that the gifts he had been given in athletic and intellectual abilities were to be shared with his country. Less than 300 men did his job, worldwide. They were the elite of the elite.
At that time, he decided he would become the best officer and Special Ops Warrior he could for the freedoms and gifts this country gave him. He was the best son a mother could ask for. He was everyone’s best friend. Most felt he would become a General, then run for President. (more…)
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Gold Star Mother: Debbie Lee
by Gold Star MothersHollywood Use Your Influence, Show Your Gratitude
Hollywood wake up! In case you hadn’t noticed or forgot, we have noble, courageous, brave, and selfless men and women serving heroically in Iraq and Afghanistan. My son Marc Alan Lee was one of those heroes. He was the first Navy SEAL to give his life fighting the war on terror in Iraq. His SEAL task-unit is the most highly decorated special-ops unit since Vietnam.
On Aug 2, 2006, he made the choice in an intense firefight to stand out in the direct line of fire three times to defend his buddies and the freedoms that he so loved and believed in. He did that for you and for every American so that you could continue to live in the “land of the free.” He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his selfless and courageous actions that day. He was also posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with valor for his similar courageous actions on July 17-18, 2006. They’ve also named the base where he was in Ramadi ”Camp Marc Lee” in his honor.
I visited Camp Marc Lee in Iraq in December of 2008 when I spent Christmas thanking and honoring our heroes. I was embedded with the 1-4 Cav and went out on patrol several times in the Doura Neighborhood in Baghdad. I saw first hand the professionalism with which our heroes carry out their jobs. I saw their respect for the local Iraqis. I saw pictures of that neighborhood just the year before that resembled a ghost town. No children or people in the streets, no shops open, no cooperation from the locals with the US troops because Al Qaeda would kill them if they saw them talking to the troops.
When I walked on those same streets I couldn’t believe the difference. Children were playing in the streets and on the new playgrounds, 150 shops were open, the locals would come up and thank the troops for the changes they had made and the freedoms they had given them. I saw first hand the successes of our troops. (more…)
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