GOLD STAR MOTHER

n.a member of the American Gold Star Mothers, an organization founded in 1928, consisting of women whose sons and daughters were killed in combat while on active duty in the armed forces. The organization derived its name from the gold star placed on service flags displayed by families and organizations during wartime. A service flag is a white flag with a red border, on which blue or gold stars are placed, with the blue stars indicating the number of family members in the service and the gold stars indicating and honoring those killed in service. The Gold Star Mothers work to perpetuate the memory of those who died in US wars and seek to inspire patriotism in the people of America, as well as instill in them a sense of obligation to their community, state and country. The organization also promotes peace for the US and all other countries. It publishes a bimonthly newsletter called Gold Star Mother and has annual meetings in June or July.