was formed in the United States shortly after World War I to provide support for mothers who lost sons and daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of hanging a banner called a Service Flag by the families of servicemen in a window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the Armed Forces. A blue star represented living servicemen while a gold star represented those who had lost their lives. Today, Gold Star Mothers continues to concentrate on providing emotional support to their members, doing volunteer work with Veterans in general and Veteran’s hospitals, and fostering a sense of patriotism and respect for members of the United States military. The Gold Star Mothers are often socially active but are non-political. The United States authorized the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation on January 3, 2013, in Section 2859 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. (Sec. 2859) Authorizes the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation to establish a commemorative work on specified federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate the sacrifices made by mothers, and by their sons and daughters who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States. Prohibits the Foundation from using federal funds to establish such work. The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation has been given congressional permission to erect the Gold Star Mothers Family Monument. The monument embracing the very moments that embody a family member’s thoughts and mood baring the news of one who is killed in action. The memorial will be positioned in Arlington National Cemetery in memoriam of the sons and daughters who lost their lives in defense of the United States of America.
