Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hernandez | Marte Willis (left), the president of the Alamo Area Chapter of American Gold Star...... read more read more
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas – In a well-lit, spacious dining hall during an Army chaplain’s invocation for a crowd of approximately 50 people, a somber tone permeates throughout a ceremony. This ceremony honored fallen service members and their surviving families during the Gold Star Mothers and Family Luncheon Sept. 24 at the Warrior and Family Support Center here.
This particular luncheon is to recognize and provide a special day for Gold Star mothers and other family members. It’s a day of honor not just for the mothers and family, but also for the ones that they’ve lost.
American Gold Star Mothers, a nonprofit organization formed in 1928, coordinates these luncheons every year on Gold Star Mothers and Family Day.
“This is an event that started in 1936 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that the last Sunday of each September would be called Gold Star Mothers and Family Day,” said Candy Martin, the former National President of American Gold Star Mothers and current Army Reserve Ambassador for the 63d Regional Support Command, Mountain View, Calif.
“It was wonderful for them to honor us,” said Marte Willis, president of the Alamo Area Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers. “It was a wonderful event, and everyone I talked to said they loved it.”
The luncheon was presented by Survivor Outreach Services, an Army program tailored to deliver an expansive range of services and support to Gold Star Mothers and Family. These benefits comprise of medical coverage, legal assistance, homeowners’ assistance, counseling services, and education on access to external resources.
“Our SOS does wonderful things for the surviving family that are here in our respective area,” said Martin. “The Army leads the way when it comes to SOS services. It helps to reach out to these families.”
Martin said that these luncheons and other SOS functions facilitate the grieving process by uniting survivors of the fallen together for comfort and support each other during their grief.
“Nobody knows the loss of a child more than another mother or a father,” Martin said. “It’s comforting to know that we can get together in a function like this, have fun, smile, and laugh. That way, we don’t dwell on the tears that are always there.”
Before the luncheon came to a conclusion, the presenters gave out white flowers to the Gold Star Mothers and Family – the color white signifies the ultimate sacrifice of their loved ones.
“We will continue the service that our children are no longer able to do,” Willis said. “It helps to come together and do things for veterans…and it helps us through our grief.”
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2017 16:58 |
| Story ID: | 249723 |
| Location: | FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, JBSA observes Gold Star Mothers and Family Day, by SSG Christopher Hernandez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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