View source for American Gold Star Mothers

{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Short description|U.S. nonprofit organization}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
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| image               = Gold Star Monument.jpg
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| caption             = A monument at the [[Ocala, Florida]] memorial park that mentions the organization
| logo                = American Gold Star Mothers logo.png 
| type                = [[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]], [[charitable organization]]
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| location            = 2128 Leroy Place NW, [[Washington, D.C.]] 20008
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[[File:Gold Star Service Banner.svg|thumb|right|A [[Service flag]] with one gold star]]
'''American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.''' (AGSM), is a private<ref name=Criteria/> nonprofit organization<ref name=Donate/> of American mothers who lost sons or daughters in service of the [[United States Armed Forces]]. It was originally formed in 1928 for mothers of those lost in [[World War I]], and it holds a [[congressional charter]] under [[Title 36 of the United States Code|Title 36 § 211 of the United States Code]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2014-title36/html/USCODE-2014-title36.htm |title=Title 36 – Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office]] |access-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref> Its name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a [[service flag]] in the windows of their homes.  The service flag had a star for each family member in the Armed Forces.  Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives in combat were represented by a gold star.

Membership in the organization is open to any woman who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident that has lost a son or daughter in active service in the U.S. military (regardless of the place or time of the military service, regardless of whether the circumstances of death involved hostile conflict or not, and including mothers of those [[missing in action]]).

==Founding==
The Gold Star Mothers was founded by Grace Darling Seibold of Washington, D.C.<ref name=History>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.goldstarmoms.com/About/History.htm |website=American Gold Star Mothers official website |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812163704/http://goldstarmoms.com/About/History.htm |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, George Vaughn Seibold, 23, volunteered, requesting assignment in aviation. He was sent to Canada where he learned to fly British planes since the United States had neither an air force nor planes. Deployed to England, he was assigned to the British Royal Flying Corps with [[148th Aero Squadron]]. With his squadron, he left for combat duty in France. He corresponded with his family regularly. His mother, Grace Darling Seibold, began to do community service by visiting returning servicemen in the hospitals. When mail from George stopped Grace assumed the worst and wrote the Army for assistance finding her son. Since all aviators were under British control and authority, the United States could not help the Seibold family with any information about their son.

Grace continued to visit hospitalized veterans in the Washington area, clinging to the hope that her son might have been injured and returned to the United States without any identification. While working through her sorrow, she helped ease the pain of the many servicemen who returned so war-damaged that they were incapable of ever reaching normalcy.

But on October 11, 1918, George's wife in Chicago received a box marked "Effects of deceased Officer 1st Lt. George Vaughn Seibold". The Seibolds also received a confirmation of George's death on November 4 through a family member in Paris. George's body was never identified.

Grace, convinced that self-contained grief is self-destructive, devoted her time and efforts not only to working in the hospital but also to supporting other mothers whose sons had lost their lives in military service. She organized a group consisting solely of these mothers, with the purpose of not only comforting each other, but giving 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. After years of planning, twenty-five mothers met in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1928, to establish the national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

== Origin of Gold Star Symbol ==
On May 28, 1918, President [[Woodrow Wilson]] approved a suggestion made by the [[Council of National Defense]] that, instead of wearing conventional mourning for relatives who have died in the service of their country, American women should wear a black band on the left arm with a gilt star on the band for each member of the family who has given his life for the nation.

"The Service Flag displayed from homes, places of business, churches, schools, etc., to indicate the number of members of the family or organizations who are serving in the Armed Forces or who have died from such service. Service flags have a deep Blue Star for each living member in the service and a Gold Star for each member who has died." Thus, the Gold Star and the term Gold Star Mother, as applied to mothers whose sons or daughters died in World War I, were accepted; they have continued to be used in reference to all American military engagements since that time.

== Pilgrimages ==
The United States also assisted its citizens who were Gold Star Mothers to visit the overseas graves of their sons, as well as for widows of the fallen.  In 1929 the program was expanded to include non-U.S. citizens.  It ended in 1933.<ref>[https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/family-ties/documenting-doughboys/6787-gold-star-pilgrimage-passports-and-travel-documents-for-alien-gold-star-pilgrims.html Gold Star Pilgrimage Passports and Travel Documents for Alien Gold Star Pilgrims]</ref>  Named medals were also presented to those who made a pilgrimage.<ref>[https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2019.16ab World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal]</ref>

==History of membership criteria==
Membership in American Gold Star Mothers was originally restricted to those who lost sons or daughters in World War I, and was later expanded to include mothers of those lost in [[World War II]], then the [[Korean War]], and then other specific conflicts. Today, the membership criteria do not consider the place or time of the military service and do not consider whether the circumstances of the death involved hostile conflict or not, and also allow membership for mothers of those [[missing in action]].

For the first 77 years of its existence, AGSM restricted its membership criteria to admit only [[U.S. citizen]]s. As a way to create pressure to change the rule, an application for admission was submitted in 2005 that deliberately highlighted the applicant's lack of citizenship.<ref name=ShunsFilipino/> The application, from Ligaya Lagman, a [[Filipinos|Filipino]] [[Permanent residence (United States)|permanent resident of the United States]] living in [[Yonkers, New York]], who had been living in the U.S. more than 20 years and whose son, Marine Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was [[killed in action]] in Afghanistan in 2004 at the age of 26, was rejected in May 2005.<ref name=ShunsFilipino>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8014030|title=Group shuns Filipino mother of slain soldier |website=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 28, 2005 |access-date=October 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Applebome/> In the next month after that incident, which received a "firestorm"<ref name=Becker>{{cite news |first=Maki |last=Becker |title=Gold Star Mothers ease rules – Now open to noncitizens |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/gold-star-mothers-ease-rules-open-noncitizens-article-1.608837 |website=[[New York Daily News]] |date=September 9, 2005 |access-date=August 20, 2016}}</ref> of publicity that included negative commentary by New York [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] [[Eliot Engel]] and New York U.S. Senator [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]],<ref name=ShunsFilipino/> the group agreed on June 27, 2005, to change its membership criteria,<ref name=Applebome>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Applebome |title=A Special Club No Mother Needs to Join |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/nyregion/a-special-club-no-mother-needs-to-join.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 29, 2005 |access-date=August 20, 2016}}</ref> and it accepted its first two non-citizens as members a few months later in early September 2005.<ref name=Becker/>

==Current membership and charter==
[[File:Gold Star Mothers 80th Commemorative Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, 2016.jpg|thumb|right|Gold Star Mothers listen as Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley (not pictured) offers remarks during the 80th Gold Star Mother's Day commemorative ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., September 25, 2016.]]
The AGSM is a private [[501(c)(3)]] nonprofit organization<ref name=Donate>{{cite web |title=Donate |url=http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Donate.htm |website=American Gold Star Mothers official website |access-date=August 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816211529/http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Donate.htm |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> that sets its own rules for who is allowed to become a member.<ref name=Criteria/> The current charter, held under Title 36 § 211 of the United States Code, was established on June 12, 1984.<ref name=History/>

Today, membership in American Gold Star Mothers is open to any woman who was a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or its [[Territories of the United States|Territories]] or [[Insular area|Insular Possessions]] at the time their child (or adopted child) was inducted into military service and whose child (or adopted child) has died or has become [[missing in action]] while in the [[United States Armed Forces]] (or died later as the result of such service). Membership is not contingent on whether the child was killed in action<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Join |url=http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Members/HowToJoin.htm |website=American Gold Star Mothers official website |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816184210/http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Members/HowToJoin.htm |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> or on the theater of operation or the time period of the service (which differs from distinctions made by the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], which confers special status to service in particular periods of time and particular hostile operations).<ref name=Criteria>{{cite web |title=Membership Criteria |url=http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Members/Membership.htm |website=American Gold Star Mothers official website |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816211141/http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Members/Membership.htm |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Non-adoptive stepmothers are also eligible for membership if they assumed responsibility for the child before the age of fifteen and raised them. Husbands and children of Gold Star Mothers are eligible to join as Associate Members. Honorary membership is available to mothers who were not citizens or legal residents at the time their child was inducted. Associate Members and Honorary Members cannot vote or hold official positions (and are not required to pay dues).

AGSM is made up of local chapters, which are organized into departments.  Five members are required to start a local chapter.  If no local chapter is available, a woman may join the organization as a member at large.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chapters & Departments|url=https://www.goldstarmoms.com/chapters--departments.html|website=American Gold Star Mothers Inc.|language=en|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref>

Just as when it was founded, AGSM continues to concentrate on providing emotional support to its members, doing volunteer work with veterans in general and veterans' hospitals in particular, and generally fostering a sense of patriotism and respect for members of the Armed Forces.

{{citation needed span|date=August 2016|text=The group currently{{when|date=August 2016|reason=as of when? this is an undated article}} has 933 members.}}

==Uniform==
The uniform consists of a white skirt, white shirt, and a white blazer, with a gold star embroidered on either lapel, and gold piping on the sleeve cuffs, and collars, and white shoes, either [[Mary Janes]] or [[Court shoe|pumps]], with a white cap, similar to a women's service hat, with gold piping. This uniform is worn at all parades, meetings, and social functions connected with military functions (e.g., [[Memorial Day]] services at [[Arlington National Cemetery]])

==Notable memberships==
[[File:Gold Star Mothers 1948 3c.jpg|thumb|200px|{{center|Gold Star Mothers<br>commemorative issue of 1948}}]]

Aside from the founder, perhaps the mother most known for being a Gold Star mother was Aletta Sullivan, the mother of the five [[Sullivan brothers]], who were killed in action when their ship, the {{USS|Juneau|CL-52}} was sunk by an enemy torpedo on November 13, 1942, during the [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]]. On September 21, 1948, the U.S. Post Office issued a [[commemorative stamp]], specially designed by artist [[Charles R. Chickering]], honoring the Gold Star Mothers. Aletta Sullivan was given the first sheet of stamps issued.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold Star Mothers Issue |publisher=Smithsonian National Postal Museum |access-date=September 24, 2013 |url=http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&tid=2028809}}</ref>

==Gold Star Mother's Day==
On the last Sunday in September, '''Gold Star Mother's Day''' is observed in the U.S. in honor of Gold Star mothers, as established in [[Title 36 of the United States Code|Title 36 § 111 of the United States Code]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/111-|title=36 U.S. Code § 111 – Gold Star Mother's Day|publisher=Law.cornell.edu|access-date=October 17, 2014}}</ref> This was originally declared by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936.<ref name=ObamaProclamation/> In September 2012, [[Barack Obama]] issued a presidential proclamation commemorating September 30, 2012, as "Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day".<ref name=ObamaProclamation>{{cite web|last=White House|first=Press Office|title=Presidential Proclamation – Gold Star Mothers' and Families' Day, 2012|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/28/presidential-proclamation-gold-star-mothers-and-familys-day-2012|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|date=September 28, 2012 |access-date=September 29, 2012}}</ref> On September 23, 2017, President [[Donald Trump]] proclaimed ''Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Office of the Press Secretary|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2017/09/23/president-donald-j-trump-proclaims-september-24-2017-gold-star-mothers|title=President Donald J. Trump Proclaims September 24, 2017, as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day|location=Washington, D.C.|language=en|date=September 23, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2017|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|author1-link=White House Office of the Press Secretary}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=jaketapper|first=Jake|last=Tapper|authorlink=Jake Tapper|number=912029826139197440|date=September 24, 2017|title=President Trump Proclaims September 24, 2017, as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day | http://whitehouse.gov |link=https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/912029826139197440|access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/09/27/2017-20895/gold-star-mothers-and-familys-day-2017|title=Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, 2017|work=[[Federal Register]]|publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=September 15, 2017|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927141952/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/09/27/2017-20895/gold-star-mothers-and-familys-day-2017|archive-date=September 27, 2017}} [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-09-27/pdf/2017-20895.pdf Alt URL]</ref>

==American Gold Star Manor==
American Gold Star Manor, located in [[Long Beach, California]], is a 348-unit retirement home for parents of soldiers killed while serving in the military.  It was founded in the early 1960s by Eleanor Boyd, then president of the American Gold Star Mothers organization.<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Michael M.|title=Parents of Fallen Troops Find a Home for Their Grief|url=http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304830704577495603728185594.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0&mg=reno64-wsj|access-date=August 11, 2012|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=August 11, 2012|pages=A1, A6}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[American War Mothers]]
* [[Blue Star Mothers of America]]
* [[Gold Star Lapel Button]]
* [[Gold Star Wives of America]]
* [[The Silver Star Families of America]]
* [[List of women's organizations]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Budreau, Lisa M. "The politics of remembrance: The Gold Star mothers' pilgrimage and America's fading memory of the Great War." ''Journal of Military History'' 72.2 (2008): 371–411.
* Fenelon, Holly S. ''That Knock at the Door: The History of Gold Star Mothers in America'' (2012).
* Graham, John W. ''The Gold Star Mother pilgrimages of the 1930s: overseas grave visitations by mothers and widows of fallen US World War I soldiers'' (McFarland, 2005).
* Plant, Rebecca Jo. "The gold star mothers pilgrimages: Patriotic maternalists and their critics in interwar America." (2012): 121–147. [https://cloudfront.escholarship.org/dist/prd/content/qt27f583p6/qt27f583p6.pdf online]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gold Star Mothers Club}}
* {{Official website|http://www.goldstarmoms.com/|name=American Gold Star Mothers }}
*''[http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011341797 American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. : hearing before the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Ninety-eighth Congress, second session, on H.R. 3811, March 21, 1984.]''

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[[Category:1928 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:501(c)(3) organizations]]
[[Category:Aftermath of World War I in the United States]]
[[Category:History of women in the United States]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1928]]
[[Category:Patriotic and national organizations chartered by the United States Congress]]
[[Category:United States military support organizations]]
[[Category:Women and death]]
[[Category:Women's organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations of World War II]]