FORT BENNING, Ga., (Oct. 2, 2013) -- Sunday marked the 77th remembrance of mothers of fallen service members across the nation.
The United States began observing Gold Star Mother's Day, which is held on the last Sunday in September, in 1936. Hosted by Army Community Service, Fort Benning held its second Gold Star Mothers Day Brunch at the Benning Club, honoring 10 mothers and four Gold Star Wives from the Vietnam era. Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, Installation Management commander, was guest speaker for the event.
"(Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Director) Al Gelineau conceived the idea from a Friday before the Gold Star Day luncheon to a day of brunch, and to make it a more formal ceremony to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by the mothers sacrifice made by the mothers of our fallen warriors," said Survivor Outreach Services coordinator Ron Smith.
A Gold Star Mother can be identified by the Gold Star Lapel Button she wears near her heart. The Gold Star Lapel Button incorporates the symbols that indicate the Family's loss: the gold laurel wreath border signifies valor, the purple field signifies the Family's grief and the gold star has been used since World War I to signify "Died in Combat Theater."
The organization was founded by Grace Darling Seibold of Washington, D.C., after the death of her son George Vaughn Seibold, a lieutenant during World War I. Seibold devoted her time to community service by visiting returning service members in hospitals and extending a hand of friendship to other mothers whose sons had lost their lives in military service.
Seibold organized a group consisting solely of these mothers to comfort each other and provide loving care to hospitalized veterans confined in government hospitals far from home.
The organization was named after the Gold Star that Families hung in their windows in honor of the deceased veteran.
For more information, visit www.goldstarmoms.com.
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