Gold Star Service Banner
Grace Seibold lost her son in WWI and organized a group of mothers who were going through the same grief which was named the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. This name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Families hung a blue star on the Service Flag for those that were living and a gold star in honor of the deceased veteran. On May 28, 1918, President Wilson approved that American women should wear a black band on the left arm and a yellow star on the band for each member of the family who had died while serving in the military.
Congress approved on June 23, 1936 that the last Sunday in September be designated as Gold Star Mother’s Day due to the “American Gold Star Mothers suffering supreme sacrifice in the loss of their sons and daughters in World Wars” as it is said in the Public Resolution 123.
Membership today is open to any American woman whose son or daughter has died in the line of duty while in the US Armed Forces. Stepmothers and adoptive mothers are eligible for membership too. Husbands and childrenla of American Gold Star Mothers can become Associate Members who do not vote or pay dues.
The Gold Star Mothers provide emotional support for each other and they have a huge sense of patriotism. They have always been involved in a lot of volunteer work and continue to do so.
