By Debbie Gregory.
Every year since 1936, Americans have honored the mothers and families of our fallen military service members on the last Sunday of September. The holiday is derived from Public Resolution 123 that was made during the 74th congress on June 23, 1936 which states:
That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the Government officials to display the United States flag on all Government buildings, and the people of the United States to display the flag and to hold appropriate meetings in their homes, churches, or other suitable places, on the last Sunday in September, as public expression of the love, sorrow and reverence of the people of the United States for the American Gold Star Mothers.
This year, President Obama issued a proclamation that designated September 29, 2013 as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. In his September 26, Presidential proclamation, Obama included the following passage which conveys all of our sentiments on the holiday:
Most of us can only imagine the pain of a mother who loses a daughter, the husband who loses his partner, or the son who loses a father. Prepared to serve others at any cost, their loved ones exemplified the values of courage and selflessness that define our Armed Forces and fortify our Union. The families of the fallen embody that same character. Amid their sorrow, these homefront heroes support one another and lift up their communities. As our country seeks to understand the depth of their sacrifice, we draw strength and inspiration from their example.
In the Preamble to the 1936 resolution, the reasons given for the provisions of creating the national holiday are given and need to be shared:
Whereas the service rendered the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the Country’s strength and inspiration; and Whereas we honor ourselves and the mothers of America when we revere and give emphasis to the home as the fountainhead of the State; and Whereas the American mother is doing so much for the home and for the moral and spiritual uplift of the people of the United States and hence so much for good government and humanity; and Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers suffered the supreme sacrifice of motherhood in the loss of their sons and daughters in World Wars
MilitaryConnection.com would like to honor and thank all Gold Star Mothers and Families for their sacrifices. This country was born from patriotism and sacrifice, and was reared through devotion and perseverance by men who fought and died, and by the women and families who raised those men.
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