During the early days of World War I, President Wilson approved a suggestion made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses that, instead of wearing conventional mourning garb and bands for relatives who had died in the service of their country, American women should wear a black band on the left arm with a gilt star on the band for each member of the family who had given his life in service to the Nation. "Service flags" were displayed from homes, businesses, churches, schools, etc. These flags had a blue star for each living member in the service and a Gold Star for each member who had died. As the war progressed and men were killed in combat, or were wounded and died of their wounds or died of contracted disease, there came about the accepted usage of the Gold Star. This gold star was substituted and superimposed upon the Blue Star in such a manner as to entirely cover it. The idea of the Gold Star was that the honor and glory accorded the person for his supreme sacrifice for his country, and the last full measure of devotion and pride of the family in dealing with this sacrifice, would be better represented by the Gold Star rather than perpetuating the sense of personal loss which would be represented by the traditional mourning symbols (black arm bands, etc.).
On September 14, 1940, the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation designating the last Sunday in September as "Gold Star Mother's Day."
The National Headquarters of the Gold Star Mothers of America, Inc. is located at 2128 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC. |
