Gold Start Moms

“Who is a Gold Star Mother?”

The term Gold Star Mother refers to any mother who has lost a child in the service of our country. An American Gold Star Mother is a Gold Star Mother who has joined the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. organization (AGSM).

History

During the early days of World War I, a Blue Star was used to represent each person, man or woman in the Military Service of the United States. As the war progressed and men were killed in combat, others wounded and died of their wounds or disease, there came about the accepted usage of the Gold Star.
This Gold Star was substituted and superimposed upon the blue Star in such a manner as to entirely cover it. The idea of the Gold Star was that the honor and glory accorded the person for his supreme sacrifice in offering for his country, the last full measure of devotion and pride of the family in this sacrifice, rather than the sense of personal loss which would be represented by the mourning symbols.

Membership Criteria

Natural Mothers or adoptive mothers, who were citizens or legal residents of the United States or of the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States, at the time of their son’s or daughter’s induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose son or daughter became missing in action, died while on active duty, or died as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

Stepmothers who are citizens or legal residents of the United States or of the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States, who assumed the responsibility of a son or daughter under the age of fifteen years, and reared this son and daughter, and who served and was missing in action or died while on active duty, or as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.