Gold Star Mother's Day in United States

Gold Star Mother’s Day is observed in the United States on the last Sunday of September each year. It is a day for people to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving the United States Armed Forces.

A gold star represents a son or daughter who died while serving the United States Armed Forces. ©iStockphoto.com/ bobbieo

What do people do?

Each year on Gold Star Mother's Day the United States president calls on all Americans to display the nation's flag and hold appropriate meetings to publicly express their love, sorrow, and reverence towards Gold Star Mothers amd their families. Government buildings are also required to display the flag.

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is an organization of mothers whose sons or daughters served and died while serving their nation in times of war or conflict. It organizes major events that take place on or around Gold Star Mother’s Day each year. Previous activities included a Gold Star flower wreath laying service, as well as an afternoon tour of President Lincoln’s cottage in Washington DC.

The last Sunday in September is also Parents of Fallen Military Sons and Daughters Day in New Jersey. This day is a tribute to all parents whose children died as a result of their service with the United States Armed Forces. It commemorates the contributions, commitments and sacrifices made by those parents individually and through the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

Public life

Gold Star Mother’s Day is not a designated public holiday in the United States so public life is not affected.

Background

The name the Gold Star Mothers was derived from the custom of military families who put a service flag near their front window. The flag featured a star for each family member serving in their country – living members were denoted in blue but gold stars honored family members who were killed while in duty. In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson approved the wearing of black arm bands bearing a gilt star by those who had a family member who died in the military service to the United States. This distinguished them from the blue stars, representing a family member presently serving in the armed forces.

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was incorporated in 1929, obtaining a federal charter from the US Congress. It began with 25 mothers living in the Washington DC area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups throughout the nation. On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day, a holiday that has been observed each year by a presidential proclamation.

Symbols

A gold star symbolizes a family member who died in the line of duty while serving the United States Armed Forces.  It may be seen on a service flag or in the form of a pin, which is worn by Gold Star mothers. The pin is not limited to mothers and it is awarded by the US Department of Defense.

Gold Star Mother's Day Observances

Other holidays in September 2012 in United States

• Labor Day ―Monday, September 3, 2012
• International Literacy Day ―Saturday, September 8, 2012
• Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day ―Saturday, September 8, 2012
• National Grandparents Day ―Sunday, September 9, 2012
• World Suicide Prevention Day ―Monday, September 10, 2012
• Patriot Day ―Tuesday, September 11, 2012
• International Day for South-South Cooperation ―Wednesday, September 12, 2012
• International Day of Democracy ―Saturday, September 15, 2012
• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer ―Sunday, September 16, 2012
• Rosh Hashana ―Monday, September 17, 2012
• Constitution Day and Citizenship Day ―Monday, September 17, 2012
• International Talk Like a Pirate Day ―Wednesday, September 19, 2012
• National POW/MIA Recognition Day ―Friday, September 21, 2012
• International Day of Peace ―Friday, September 21, 2012
• September equinox ―Saturday, September 22, 2012
• Emancipation Day ―Saturday, September 22, 2012
• Yom Kippur ―Wednesday, September 26, 2012
• World Maritime Day ―Thursday, September 27, 2012
• World Tourism Day ―Thursday, September 27, 2012
• World Rabies Day ―Friday, September 28, 2012
• World Heart Day ―Sunday, September 30, 2012