Gold Star Mothers Day
Last Sunday in September

Sunday, September 27, 2009, is Gold Star Mother's Day. Every year the 4th Sunday of September is set aside to honor mothers whose sons or daughters died in the line of duty.

The name references the single gold star on service flags displayed in the windows of homes that have lost a son or daughter to war.

Mothers of fallen service members began calling themselves “Gold Star Mothers” during the First World War, but the sorrowful bond they share reaches back to every woman who has lost a son or daughter in uniform since The Revolutionary War.

The American Legion cherishes the mothers of its airmen, soldiers, sailors, and marines as bedrocks of support and comfort. We deeply honor the mothers of our fallen as resilient legacies of their children’s service. The United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September, 1936, five years before our entry into World War II.

Every year, The American Legion joins the nation on the last Sunday in September in recognizing the sacrifice and strength of its Gold Star Mothers.

On Friday, September 25, 2009, the Army conducted a Gold Star Mothers ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes. Participants included members of Gold Star Mothers, Inc., a national service organization whose local chapter members do volunteer work in veterans hospitals and provide personal service to veterans and their families.

Every year on this day, Gold Star Mothers and service representatives lay wreaths at the Vietnam War Memorial and at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. American Legion posts, and military installations and commands encouraged all U.S. citizens to honor Gold Star Mothers on a day and time appropriate. Just as a Gold Star Mother's support continues beyond the life of her child, the country’s support of its mothers also endures. We thanks and honors the parents of soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors---especially Gold Star Mothers---for supporting their children's call to serve and for their sacrifice. A grateful nation remembers.

The Gold Star Mothers website explains their purpose and goals, and is located at:
http://www.army.mil/goldstarmothers/