NH Gold Star Families Memorial Project

05/18/2026

Last Call ! If you are planning to join is for the signing of House Bill 1078, which creates a Gold Star Family and Gold Star Father license plate please reach out to me ASAP. The bill is scheduled to be signed by the Governor on:

Tuesday, May 19th
1:00 PM
Executive Council Chambers located on the 2fl of the State House.

They are requesting that we arrive about 15 minutes early. Just so that we make sure everybody is there. We have the bill signed, we can take some photos. Do all of the things in the allotted timeframe.

We would love to have as many surviving family members in attendance as possible. If you are able to attend, please consider bringing a photo of your loved one with you.

I understand that this is very last minute, and I know schedules are difficult to rearrange. However, this is an important day for Gold Star and military surviving families across New Hampshire. Families across decades have advocated for the opportunity to expand Gold Star license plate recognition, and your presence would help show the Governor’s Office, legislators, and the State of New Hampshire just how deeply these matters.

The expansion of this license plate program to additionally recognize Gold Star fathers, siblings, spouses, and children is more than a change in statute. It is a public acknowledgment that the sacrifice of our loved ones continues to be carried by their families, and that their names, service, and legacies deserve to be honored and remembered.

Your presence matters. Your loved one matters. Your family’s story matters. This is an opportunity for families to stand together and be part of a meaningful moment of recognition and remembrance.

Please reach out to me at [email protected] to RSVP and with any questions or concerns

05/16/2026

🇺🇸 Become a Sponsor for the 2026 NH Run for the Fallen 🇺🇸

Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026 in Newport, NH as we honor and remember New Hampshire’s fallen heroes and support their Gold Star Families. ❤️💙

Because of generous sponsors, this meaningful 5K remains FREE for runners and walkers while helping provide a special day of remembrance, connection, and support for the families of our fallen service members.

Sponsorship levels begin at just $100 and include opportunities for recognition on banners, social media, event materials, and more.

📍 Event held in Newport, NH
📅 Sunday, September 20, 2026
📧 [email protected]
📞 603-863-1510

Please help us honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 🇺🇸

05/16/2026

We received notice that House Bill 1078, which creates a Gold Star Family and Gold Star Father license plate, is scheduled to be signed by the Governor on:

Tuesday, May 19th
1:00 PM
Executive Council Chambers located on the 2fl .
They are requesting that we arrive about 15 minutes early. Just so that we make sure everybody is there. We have the bill signed, we can take some photos. Do all of the things in the allotted timeframe.

We would love to have as many surviving family members in attendance as possible. If you are able to attend, please consider bringing a photo of your loved one with you.

This is very last minute, and I know schedules are difficult to rearrange. However, this is an important day for Gold Star and military surviving families across New Hampshire. Families across decades have advocated for the opportunity to expand Gold Star license plate recognition, and your presence would help show the Governor’s Office, legislators, and the State of New Hampshire just how deeply these matters.

The expansion of this license plate program to additionally recognize Gold Star fathers, siblings, spouses, and children is more than a change in statute. It is a public acknowledgment that the sacrifice of our loved ones continues to be carried by their families, and that their names, service, and legacies deserve to be honored and remembered.

Your presence matters. Your loved one’s photo matters. Your family’s story matters.

If you are able to attend please reach out to Stephanie Ouellette at [email protected] to RSVP and with any questions or concerns

05/06/2026

➡️Save the date for our annual VA Manchester Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026.

04/21/2026

This has been a long time coming. A really long time. We have come relatively close before, but we have never gotten here. And I want every single one of you to know why we finally did.

We made it here because some of our newer families picked up this fight and marched forward with it when it could have stalled again. The Grone family , we would not be here without you. Your voice, your presence, and your willingness to show up and speak your truth in honor of Tanner moved this forward in ways I cannot fully put into words. Thank you.

We are here because of Charlene Marois who started advocating for the license plate expansion back when her brother Adam Brooks was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq. Thank you for never giving up.

Thank you to Chaplin Burgess for sharing his story and highlighting that here in New England we have families spread across multiple states and the ability to honor your loved one should not depend on what side of the state line you live, advocating for his family who resides here in NH to have the same recognition opportunity he has in Maine .

We would not be here without Elizabeth Santos who held this role before me and poured herself into this work for years. Her tireless dedication laid the foundation for everything that happened today. By sheer coincidence she happed to be volunteering at the State House today and I had the pleasure of sharing with her the outcome. She is overjoyed for each and every one of you.

We would not be here without every single family , every one of you who showed up, spoke out and advocated not just for yourselves but for others as well over the last 2 decades , like the Bilodeau Family time and time again. This was not just a team effort. This was a community effort. Because that is exactly what we are. A community.

And we would not be here without the legislators who truly got it , who understood this was not just about a license plate and championed this bill with a level of care and commitment that I am blown away by. You showed up for our states Gold Star families, and we are so grateful. For many of us who have long worked on this legislation that is not been our experience for almost 20 years . Rep Murphy, Rep Davis, Rep Korzen and Rep Ouellet , THANK YOU for listening to these families and advocating for these families .

Here is where we stand: In the hearing today, the committee voted Ought to Pass . The bill now has a few more steps before we can have a bill signing with the Governor and I will make sure that everyone knows what is happening and when, should you want to be there.

We are so close . I want to be careful not to get a head of the process, but I know we are going to have something really meaningful to share soon and I hope you all can be there.

This bill matters because grief does not have a hierarchy. Gold Star Mothers are extraordinary and so are Gold Star Fathers, Spouses, Children, and Siblings.

For every Gold Star Family Member who felt like they were never quite fully seen this is for you.

04/21/2026

the Senate Hearing on our Gold Star Father and Gold Star Family License plate legislation is still on for 1:10 pm in room 222 at the State House.

If you are coming , please enter though the front main doors and the guard on the left will be able to direct you to the hearing room.

I just spoke to one of the legislators and they reached out to let me know if there were more family members who would like to speak, they have made accommodations for that that and all are welcome to testify .

This is such great news !

Even better news is they have the ability to vote "Ought to Pass" right there in the hearing room. That means if we are mindful of time and allow space for that vote to happen, we could see this bill advance today.

This would be the last step before the final vote on the full Senate floor , very similar to the process we went through together on the House side of the legislature.

If you are able to join us, we would love to have you there. This is a wonderful opportunity to fill the room with Gold Star family members and show solidarity across our community as a reminder to everyone present that this legislation matters deeply and has been a long time coming.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I hope to see many of you there today.

04/14/2026

UPDATED EVENT INFO After speaking with several families about this event and hearing their concerns I followed up with Swim with A Mission. I have confirmed that regardless of manner of death if your loved one is featured on their Honor Wall ( https://www.swam.org/honor-wall ) they along with the other service members the students researched are mentioned and will be honored in the presentation. They again reiterated that all are welcome and have set aside reserved seating for families .

If you are interested or planning to attend, please RSVP with me so I can coordinate seating and get them a headcount for the social hour. Please RSVP to me at [email protected]

For more information check out this link: https://www.nec.edu/event/never-forget-a-virtual-wall-of-honor presentation page

04/14/2026

Sharing a very specisl event on behalf of Swim with a Mission and New England College . Never Forget : A virtual Wall of Honor is being presented on April 24th at the Rosamond Page Putnam Center for the Performing Arts (please see the flyer below and the attached campus map for details) from 5-8 PM .

As part of the program, two student researchers will present on service members who were killed in action. Their presentation includes over 400 slides featuring the names of service members killed in action since World War I. They plan to display each slide for about 3–4 seconds while reading each name aloud. The college is reserving a dedicated section specifically for Gold Star Families, and it would mean a great deal to have them there as honored guests.

If you are interested or planning to attend, please RSVP with me so I can coordinate seating and get them a headcount for the social hour. RSVP to [email protected]

For more information check out this link: https://www.nec.edu/event/never-forget-a-virtual-wall-of-honor

03/30/2026

The VA Medical Center in Manchester is looking for a Surviving Family to participate in the wreath laying during their Memorial Day Ceremony. If you are interested in participating, or have any questions please reach out to me via email and I will connect you with the family point of contact for the ceremony.

[email protected]

10/23/2025