Who are Gold Star Mothers?
Mothers working together to honor and preserve the memory of their fallen children by continuing their service to the military community.
American Gold Star Mothers website
American Gold Star Mothers in the United States volunteer thousands of hours yearly to support Veterans, Active Duty Military, and their families.
They provide economic and social support to these brave men and women.
Who started Gold Star Mothers?
Grace Darling Seibold founded the organization June 4, 1928, in Washington, D.C.
The Ninety-Eighth Congress of the United States granted their Charter on June 12, 1984.
Grace’s story
While her son George served with England during World War I, Grace Darling Seibold began performing community service by visiting returning servicemen in hospitals in Washington, D.C.
With no news from George, Grace continued visiting hospitalized veterans believing her son might have been injured, and returned to the United States without any identification.
Working through her sorrow, she helped ease the pain of the many servicemen who returned traumatized.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. website
Grace, realizing that self-contained grief is self-destructive, devoted her time and efforts to not only working in the hospital but extending the hand of friendship to other mothers whose sons had lost their lives in military service.
On October 11, 1918, George’s wife in Chicago received a box marked “Effects of deceased Officer 1st Lt. George Vaughn Seibold”. George’s family also received a confirmation of George’s death on November 4th through a family member in Paris.
George’s body was never identified.
Why start an organization?
Through her grief, Grace organized a group of other mothers, to comfort each other, and to give loving care to hospitalized veterans confined in government hospitals far from home.
That Knock at the Door: The History of Gold Star Mothers in America
affiliate link
The organization was named after the Gold Star that families hung in their windows in honor of the deceased veteran.
American Gold Star Mothers
Now over 140 Chapters of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. across the United States support veterans, active duty service members, and their families by hosting events to honor these men and women while educating the community about service and patriotism. Initiatives include:
- Visiting VA Homes and Hospitals
- Packaging and shipping care packages to deployed service members.
- Purchasing school supplies and clothes for veterans, active duty service members, and Gold Star children.
- Participating in community events that celebrate military service.
- Participating in national and local Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
- Making holiday meals for Veterans Homes and Military Bases.
- Providing assistance with home repairs, vehicle repairs, and moving expenses.
The organization is located in the heart of the United States capital at
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Headquarters
2128 Leroy Place NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
And you can follow them on Facebook.
Arlington National Cemetery
I took these photos of Arlington Cemetery while visiting Washington DC in August 2022. This area was under construction due to the planned expansion of Arlington National Cemetery by realigning the adjacent roads, adding roughly 50 acres to the cemetery for 80,000 new burial spaces, as the cemetery is now close to capacity.
Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day
In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day (now known as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day).
For further reading (affiliate link)
Our Sons Our Heroes: Memories Shared by America’s Gold Star Mothers from the Vietnam War
My husband Raymond and I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
Wreaths Across America
Anyone can sponsor a wreath to be laid at a veteran’s grave on Wreaths Across America day held on the 3rd Saturday in December annually.
You can donate and find a local participating cemetery at this link.
My husband and I donate and lay wreaths at our local observance.
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Every year in May, the United States remembers its fallen heroes.
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