Saturday, May 5, 2018
Dear Marine Families,

The mission of the Gold Star Luminary Initiative is to promote awareness of Gold Star Family Day, and urge organizations and individuals in communities throughout the United States to light luminaries at dusk on the last Sunday of each September in honor of our fallen heroes.

Tragically, in the last decade, almost 7,000 families have been forced to deal with the utterly devastating heartbreak of their children laying down their lives for their country.

Most of us have not experienced this tragedy. Most of us never will. We can't relate personally or begin to imagine what that must be like. What we can do, however, is honor and recognize these families. We can thank them for the sacrifices they and their children have made on our behalf. We can let them know that, no matter what, we support and stand behind them as a country and that, if even just for a day, their burden is our burden too.

God bless and Semper Fi
Last Sunday in September is Gold Star Family Day
The History of Gold Star Family Day
Shortly after World War I, the  Gold Star Mothers Club  was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers who lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a Service Flag in their windows. A Service Flag would have a star for each family member in the military embroidered on it. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star and those who were killed in action were represented by a gold star.

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was founded in 1929, after receiving a charter from Congress. It was founded by 25 mothers living in the Washington, D.C. area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups across the nation. On June 23, 1936, a joint Congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day.

Gold Star Mother's Day has been observed each year since 1936 by presidential proclamation—beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt and continuing through to the present day. Beginning in 2009, the last Sunday in September—originally designated as "Gold Star Mother's Day"—is now designated as "Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day" by an annual presidential proclamation.
Take the Pledge Today
Show your support and take the pledge! Complete our online form TODAY, then mark your calendar for the last Sunday in September every year to light a luminary for Gold Star families, beginning on September 30, 2018.