We ask our Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Marines and Guardians to swear an oath to protect and defend our country, our values, our freedoms and our way of life. And they do so - with spouses and families proudly by their side, supporting them. Unfortunately, with this commitment comes great sacrifice, and all too often, service members make the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation.
On April 5th, we invite everyone to honor our Gold Star spouses; take a moment to recognize the sacrifices they have made for us and cherish the stories they share of our fallen. It is through Gold Star spouses that their fallen service members’ legacies and memories are kept alive. These men and women left behind are truly heroes in their own right. Not only have they suffered great loss in defense of our freedoms, but they have continued on, sharing with the rest of the world the many faces of service. Through them, we have a better appreciation of their hardships.
I am in awe of and humbled by our Gold Star spouses’ bravery, sacrifice, patriotism and service to our nation. I thank every Gold Star spouse who has shared their memories of their service member and their struggles. Their stories have made me smile, and at times, left me speechless. We, as an Army and as a nation, are indebted to our Gold Star spouses and will never know the true extent of the burdens they carry.
Gold Star Spouses Day is our opportunity to show respect to Gold Star wives and husbands and support them. The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families. And no one has given more than our Gold Star families; we are forever grateful.
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