FORT CARSON, Colo. - Local Gold Star mothers shared their time, knowledge and compassion with each other and the Joint Task Force Carson leadership during a lunch held in their honor at the Fallen Heroes Family Center, Sept. 30, 2014.
Gold Star mothers have lost a son or daughter in military service to the nation.
“It is for all mothers who have lost a child while they were serving honorably in the armed services,” said Silvia Buoniconti, president of the Pikes Peak Gold Star Mothers. “It is nice to get together with other moms who are in the same situation as you are.”
The mothers talked about their various coping methods such as journaling or making memory quilts out of their loved ones’ T-shirts.
“The truth about grief is that it doesn’t follow a straight line,” said Carol Cohen, military family life consultant. “We have to throw out the time frame for grief.”
Cohen suggested that individuals are often harder on themselves than others.
“It’s bad at birthdays and Mother’s Day,” Buoniconti said. “But it can be the little things that break you down.”
Comfort is found, however, in the company of those with shared experiences.
“We have helped each other by being there when we need each other,” Buoniconti said. “It is a safe place when we meet and we end up going through all sorts of emotions during our meeting. We will smile, laugh, cry, get angry and start laughing again.
“It is also good for members who come in and are new to this journey,” Buoniconti said. “It helps to have someone who has experienced it when you have paperwork you need to fill out. We just need to make sure that all mothers who lost a child while serving in the military know that this organization is here for them.”
Gold Star Mother’s Day is nationally recognized on the last Sunday in September.