Posted on Sep 28, 2015
US Army promoting awareness of Gold Star Survivors. How many people know about this?
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The Lapel Buttons were established by an Act of Congress in August 1947 as a visible sign for family members of Soldiers who sacrificed their lives while serving the country. The Lapel Button is a keepsake identifying the next of kin of the Soldiers who gave their all while defending the American way of life.
One Lapel Button is furnished without cost to the widow or widower, to each of the parents, each child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half brother, sister, and half sister of a member of the Armed Forces who lost his or her life while in the active military service. The term "widow or widower" includes those who have since remarried, and the term "parents" includes mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco parentis. The Army provides two different Lapel Buttons:
• Gold Star Lapel Button (signifies died in a combat theater) features a gold star, one-quarter inch in diameter, on a purple circular background (signifies the families' grief or mourning) that is three-quarters inch in diameter within a wreath of gold laurel leaves (signifies valor). The Gold Star Lapel Button is furnished to eligible family members of a Soldier who was killed serving in combat, during an international terrorist attack, or as part of a peacekeeping force.
• Lapel Button for Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel consists of a gold star within a circle surrounded by sprigs of oak. The Next-of-Kin Lapel Button is issued to family members of a Soldier who died while on active duty or while assigned to an Army Reserve or Army National Guard unit in a drill status.
What is the Army doing?
The Army is raising awareness of the importance of the Lapel Buttons and the ultimate sacrifices they represent.
What efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
The Army provides the Lapel Buttons as a reminder that Soldiers lost during service to country will not be forgotten. The Army's Survivor Outreach Services will continue to deliver a coordinated, comprehensive, and standardized program that includes grief counseling across the force to meet survivors' needs with dedicated resources as long as the family desires.
Why is this important to the Army?
The Lapel Buttons signify the ultimate sacrifice made by our Soldiers and their families.
Resources:
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC)
AR 600-8-1: Army Casualty Program
Army Regulation 600-8-22: Military Awards
Code of Federal Regulations: Title 32 - National Defense, Section 578.63
Public Law 534 - 89th Congress
10 USC 1126: Gold Star Lapel button: Eligibility and distribution
Related STAND-TO!
Survivor Outreach Services
One Lapel Button is furnished without cost to the widow or widower, to each of the parents, each child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half brother, sister, and half sister of a member of the Armed Forces who lost his or her life while in the active military service. The term "widow or widower" includes those who have since remarried, and the term "parents" includes mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco parentis. The Army provides two different Lapel Buttons:
• Gold Star Lapel Button (signifies died in a combat theater) features a gold star, one-quarter inch in diameter, on a purple circular background (signifies the families' grief or mourning) that is three-quarters inch in diameter within a wreath of gold laurel leaves (signifies valor). The Gold Star Lapel Button is furnished to eligible family members of a Soldier who was killed serving in combat, during an international terrorist attack, or as part of a peacekeeping force.
• Lapel Button for Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel consists of a gold star within a circle surrounded by sprigs of oak. The Next-of-Kin Lapel Button is issued to family members of a Soldier who died while on active duty or while assigned to an Army Reserve or Army National Guard unit in a drill status.
What is the Army doing?
The Army is raising awareness of the importance of the Lapel Buttons and the ultimate sacrifices they represent.
What efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
The Army provides the Lapel Buttons as a reminder that Soldiers lost during service to country will not be forgotten. The Army's Survivor Outreach Services will continue to deliver a coordinated, comprehensive, and standardized program that includes grief counseling across the force to meet survivors' needs with dedicated resources as long as the family desires.
Why is this important to the Army?
The Lapel Buttons signify the ultimate sacrifice made by our Soldiers and their families.
Resources:
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC)
AR 600-8-1: Army Casualty Program
Army Regulation 600-8-22: Military Awards
Code of Federal Regulations: Title 32 - National Defense, Section 578.63
Public Law 534 - 89th Congress
10 USC 1126: Gold Star Lapel button: Eligibility and distribution
Related STAND-TO!
Survivor Outreach Services
Military Family
Service
Sacrifice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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SPC Thomas Baldwin
I actually was aware of this. A friend of mine had a son who (very unfortunately) committed suicide while on active duty. She is a Gold Star Mother and has done a very good job of educating people who think that one has to die in combat in order for their survivors to be Gold Star Survivors.
I actually was aware of this. A friend of mine had a son who (very unfortunately) committed suicide while on active duty. She is a Gold Star Mother and has done a very good job of educating people who think that one has to die in combat in order for their survivors to be Gold Star Survivors.
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My uncle was killed in Vietnam and my grandparents always wore their Gold Star lapel pin. In fact, when they passed, they were both buried with their pins on their clothing.
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SPC Thomas Baldwin
The term Gold Star family is a modern reference that comes from the Service Flag. These flags/banners were first flown by families during World War I. The flag included a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the armed forces of the United States, during any period of war or hostilities in which the armed forces of the United States were engaged. If that loved one died, the blue star was replaced by a gold star. This allowed members of the community to know the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom.
The United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September, in 1936. The Gold Star Wives was formed before the end of World War II. The Gold Star Lapel Button was established in August 1947.
Today, the nation recognizes the sacrifice that all Gold Star Family members make when a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or other loved one dies in service to the nation. The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families. The Army recognizes that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen.
The United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September, in 1936. The Gold Star Wives was formed before the end of World War II. The Gold Star Lapel Button was established in August 1947.
Today, the nation recognizes the sacrifice that all Gold Star Family members make when a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or other loved one dies in service to the nation. The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families. The Army recognizes that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen.
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