Gold Star Mothers Day
Gold Star Mother plaque
The Gold Star Mother’s Club was started after the First War to End All Wars.
A living serviceman has a blue star on the banner, the deceased troops are assigned the gold star.
Aletta Sullivan
The single most famous Gold Star Mother (and rightly so…) was Aletta Sullivan, mother of the 5 Sullivan brothers.
Memorial at Yonkers, NY
Memorial at Stanton Plaza, Manchester, NH
The Gold Star Mothers deserved our honor and respect and especially on this day.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Current WWII news –
The island of Kiska, Alaska, in the Aleutians was the site of Japanese invasion and battles. Today it is the site of untouched relics from those days. These photos were taken by a research team allowed on the island by special permission.
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FOR ANYONE WHO OWNS A CELL PHONE!!
*or has a child that does *
http://www.youtube.com/embed/JHixeIr_6BM?rel=0&autoplay=1&iv_load_policy=3
courtesy of Lord Beari of Bow who can be located HERE!
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Farewell Salutes –
Peter Allen – Evanston, IL; US Army, WWII, engineers, Korea, Captain, MP 8th Army
Cora @ Fresh Start
Kerry Briand – Ottawa, CAN; RC Navy, Lt., HMCS Magnificent & Bonaventure
Carl Clark – Keyser, WV; US Navy, WWII
Frank Mariano – Solvay, NY; US Army, Korea
Allen Murphy, Albany, NZ; RNZ Navy # 12507, CPO (Ret.)
John Starsky – Lawrence, KS; US Navy, WWII, PTO
Howard Warren – Gadsden, AL; US Army, Vietnam
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Posted on September 28, 2014, in Korean War, Uncategorized, Vietnam, WWII and tagged Alaska, family history, Gold Star Mothers, History, Military, nostalgia, Tributes, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 59 Comments.
Pacific Paratrooper 
GP – The Gold Star Mother program was an important way of honoring the sacrifices those at home made throughout the war.
The piece about Kiska was absolutely fabulous. It makes me wonder if my Uncle Ced ever flew to Kiska. I do know that he was sent out to rescue planes – He would locate them and land. Then he would figure out what was needed to repair it, have that air dropped to him, repair the plane and bring it back. Logic tells me that at some point, there needed to be two pilots !!! Very interesting.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the post and I’m very hapy to see here again, Judy. I certainly hope the progress with your health is going well.
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That family has a great history to be proud of, and the mother must be exceptional, five sons to have worried and prayed over, great piece of military history gpcox.
Am I right in seeing a postage stamp depicting that award ?
Ian
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You are correct. Despite few people being aware of Gold Star Mothers (besides those involved), they have been recognized by the stamp.
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As you’ve said along the way : It takes a family to fight a war . Another fine post . Thanks .
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That it does, Dan! In fact, for everyone’s reminder – November is Military Family Month.
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Wonderful post, gpcox. And I echo some of the comments above. Certainly, that pride for country and our sons and daughters – and especially for these mothers – has become lost in the past recent years. Now its more on TV of how a mother lost a child through drug deals gone bad or a gang killing. And I now know of these memorials. Thank you. Sorry I’ve been away for the past couple of weeks!
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Just checking to make certain you were alright. I imagine you do see more of those ‘drug deals gone bad’ episodes, what with L.A. and all, we have them here, just not quite as often. Military families are strong – where do you think the people in the service got that spunk! Good to see you, Koji.
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Mothers and families, deserve a great deal of respect. Waiting for that telegram must have been dreadful.
The photos are haunting too, what a place.
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As I told Hillary, they want it all preserved as it was originally left in the war. Thanks for coming by.
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Yes, we need to remember the mothers. The pictures from Alaska were extraordinary. Is there a reason why Kiska is closed off?
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For preservation. Hence the reason for special permission, you need to prove you are part of a valid research group, etc. Everything is to be left where it dropped.
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Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. I really enjoy your blog and and how helpful you are to other bloggers, like me. I’ve learned a great deal from your writing, research techniques and insights. My grandmother was one of the Gold Star Mothers from World War Two.
To accept this award, please:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to that blog.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Nominate 15 bloggers you admire (or as many as you can think of!).
4. Contact your bloggers to let them know that you’ve tagged them for the One Lovely Blog Award
Congratulations! I have posted my nominations at:
http://genealogysisters.wordpress.com/2014/09/27/one-lovely-blog-award-a-wonderful-surprise/
Warm regards, Maryann
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I greatly appreciate your comments and nomination, but I’m afraid I don’t accept them. Yes, I do the research, but the troops did all the work. By your comment, it means to me that I’m on the right track and at least helping a few people. I do sincerely thank you and hope the links I add to the posts and reblogs for fellow bloggers will suffice as being helpful. Thanks again Maryann!!
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GP, I always learn from your postings, and often your words bring tears to my eyes. You are always on the right track! God bless all of our troops, and those that wait for them to come home safe and sound!
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So nicely said, thank you for that and for your understanding!
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Our son Tony flew helicopters for the Marines in Iraq. The war had just started when Peggy got a call from Radio KGO in San Francisco. An embedded reporter had just flown on a rescue mission with Tony through a sandstorm and talked to Peggy immediately after the event. Talk about heart-stopping. Mother’s indeed, deserve to be recognized.
On another note: Tony now flies helicopters for the Coastguard out of Kodiak. One of the places he helps with rescue operations are the Aleutians. Last year Peggy and I drove up the Alaska Highway which was originally built as a response to the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands. Talk about a heroic effort… Curt
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Curt, the blood drained out of me as I read the first paragraph – Great to know that Tony came home! I’ve had a few friends make that Alaskan highway trip and end up living there for a while (one still is), maybe one day I’ll get there. Thanks for sharing your story and please thank Tony for his service!!
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Will do.
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I am, but should not be, how few people know the term “Gold Star Mother” and what it means. Perhaps young people — people 60 and under — can be excused because no one has taken the time to tell them. Perhaps there needs to be a “Gold Star Mother” stamp reissued. Our government has honored a number of less than honorable people on our stamps. Maybe it is time to do better.
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Outstanding suggestion!!! I’m afraid I have to agree about the under 60 remark – nowadays it seems people don’t become patriotic unless their own necks might be in danger (9-11, Boston bombings, etc) – we have lost so many more service people since WWII in defense of the rest of the world and yet, youngsters are NOT informed about their sacrifice or that of their families.
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Interesting! Your posts are always informative. I can use this bit of information in my work-in-progress novel. Thanks for that!
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I’m thrilled, Cindy. Does your book have a working title?
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🙂 Inside the Gold Plated Pistol….
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Whoa – I like it! Very intriguing!
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I remember hearing about the Gold Star. There was a movie I believe called “The Sullivan’s”. In the movie there was a solid square hanging in the window and she kept adding the gold stars as she heard about her sons. I was young but remember how much it touched me. Great post!
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Yes, there was a movie about the Sullivan brothers and I of course will have a post for them. I saw the movie when I was a youngster as well and it still hangs with me. Ward Bond was the admiral who told the parents – “IT WAS ALL FIVE.” I can’t even begin to imagine..
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Glad that you remember the movie also. I can’t imagine hearing that news. Will look forward to that post as it has stayed with me all those years.
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Something like that leaves an impact, plus the acting was good.
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Love the photos of Kiska, wonder if Ced and the boys new anything about it?
By the way, the video you linked at the end…chilling!
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I tried to hold off until Judy felt better and ask her about Kiska and her uncle Ced, then I thought differently about bothering her during her recuperation…..
Thanks for spending so much time here, Mrs. P.
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Reblogged this on Elaine's Random Thoughts and commented:
In honor of all the Gold Star moms, those Moms who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country. God bless them all for the sacrifices made by them. Thank you!
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I appreciate you helping people to honor these mothers who also gave up so much, Elaine. Thank you.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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I recently read a novel which was a fictional story with a basis on the first Gold Star Mothers. It was a wonderful read. http://aprilsmith.net/a-star-for-mrs-blake/
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After reading the review, “A Star For Mrs. Blake” sounds like quite the emotion journey! Thank you for sending the link, Maryann.
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Thanks for posting GP, I’ll look out for that stamp, a venerable addition to a collection.
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I thought you might like that. I used to collect stamps when I was younger, Smitty taught me how to treat them and put them in the albums. Finding this one would be a fine addition to your collections. Thanks for coming by Tom.
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Though I “think” I can imagine what a Gold Star Mother goes through, I know that I have no idea. Thank you for the post.
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At least you acknowledge it, Colleen. By sympathizing with their suffering, you add comfort. Thank you for commenting here.
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Mothers must surely bear the biggest burden in any war. And talking of Kiska as a “sort of frozen in time museum”, our British version of Sky TV is showing a PBS documentary next week about a B-29 frozen solid in the Greenland icecap. Hopefully, they thawed it out and flew back in it!
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‘Military families have to be as strong as their soldiers sometimes’. Very true.
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My Mothers Day posts are usually about Gold Star Mothers.
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Good for you, Carl. You understand what they go through.
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Reblogged this on MrMilitantNegro™.
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Glad you liked it, Juseseppi. They are the strongest of women.
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Respect indeed… The Wikipedia write up is an interesting read too.
Nice photos from Kiska by the way, looks like my sort of photo destination.
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I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska as it is, but to go to Kiska, you must prove you have a valid reason and credentials, plus your own supplies. It is now a preserve, sort of frozen in time museum.
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I guess “I want to take photos” would not be deemed a valid reason.. Oh well 🙂
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Not by the article I read, they prefer research org.
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Maybe I could change my name..
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Well – I don’t think Feral will work out too well… 😆
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You could well be right.. Plan B, go somewhere else 🙂
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Ah-ha!
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Works for me
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Reblogged this on Our Ancestors and commented:
Odna Lagasse Ritchie was one…
She was a Gold Star Mother twice.
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Thank you, Pierre for sharing in the recognition of these women. No one knows how they suffer as well. Military families have to be as strong as their soldiers sometimes.
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Thank you for citing me as a source of your curiosity – things like this are what urge me to continue.
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