Today Is Gold Star Mothers Day

Gold Star Mothers Club

American Gold Star Mothers




A letter to the President from a 'Gold Star StepMom'

Today Is Gold Star Mothers Day


To the Honorable President George W. Bush:

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936, has
designated the last Sunday in September as "Gold Star Mother's Day"
and has authorized and requested the President to issue a
proclamation in its observance.

This is stated on the back of the medal given to me due to Alex being
killed during combat.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton proclaimed that we should "honor
women whose sons and daughters have pledged their lives to securing
for all Americans the blessings of liberty. These mothers have made
tremendous sacrifices, the most painful being the loss of their
children, and deserve the respect and recognition of the nation."

Why do we not honor the fathers and siblings as well? I am but
a stepmother, yet due to my gender and not my blood, I am given this honor.
I had to request the medals for both my husband and son because they
were never considered to be honorable enough.

My husband and stepson Brian continue bereft and much more impacted
than the females of my family. As a gender, feelings stew inside of you
all causing deep harm either to yourselves or by directing agression outward
(i.e. by starting meaningless and purposeless wars).

In 2007, George W. Bush proclaimed "The gift of liberty is secured by
heroes who have answered the call to serve when America needed them
most. On Gold Star Mother's Day, we honor the mothers of the service
men and women who have given their lives in the defense of our great
Nation.

President Bush, you goad all Mothers with this supplemental day of honor.
This day has been given to us due to having our sons killed during combat.
I feel no joy at this recollection. I feel no honor in knowing that this nation
thrives on wars to move the wheels of its economy, where young men and
women are seduced by honor to spill blood.

The President continues his proclamation stating,
"America's Gold Star Mothers are remarkable patriots who serve their
communities by demonstrating good citizenship, providing support and
services to our troops and veterans, and helping comfort the families
whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice. Their sense of
duty and deep devotion to our country inspire our Nation, and we
thank them for their compassion, determination, and strength. Though
they carry a great burden of grief, these courageous mothers help
ensure that the legacy of our fallen heroes will be forever
remembered. On this day, we offer our deep gratitude and respect to
our Nation's Gold Star Mothers; we honor the sons and daughters who
died while wearing the uniform of the United States; and we pray for
God's blessings on them, their mothers, and their families."

For your information, I pray for the day not just for the occupation of Iraq to end, I
pray for the day when no more of these pins are ever needed again. I pray for
an end to this oddly named and misunderstood club of females: Gold Star Mothers.
I hope that these misanthropic Gold Star Mothers soon go into extinction due to
an end to war. The grief is not golden. The pain at knowing that another Gold Star
Mother comes into being every half day or so is heartbreaking and maddening.

President Bush, I am a Gold Star Stepmother for peace. The DoD gave
me the little gold star pin with the purple border too. Yet, those in defense
of justice, peace and the constitution are constantly called traitors.
Which is it President Bush? Am I a patriot or not? This Catholic Sunday school
teacher, this volunteer for the Veteran's Administration, this community activist, and stepmother who believes you have committed impeachable offenses wants to know.

Sincerely, I urge justice and peace for all,
Melida Sharon Arredondo
Roslindale, MA
Gold Star Stepmother to
Lcpl. Alexander Scott Arredondo, USMC,
08/04/84 - 08/25/04
Born: Boston, MA
KIA: An Najaf, Iraq

And the proclamation for this day by the President:


From the White House:
Gold Star Mother's Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America








The photo's are just a couple taken at the 'Arlington South Memorial - Charlotte' yesterday, that was set up by a number of volunteers, on friday, for the 'First International Day of Non - Violence' and will be taken down tonight.

Update: Forgot to add the following:

Anyone interested in displaying the Arlington South crosses,in North Carolina or South Carolina, can email organizers at Statesville Memorial
Oroginally Summer Lipford, Gold Star Mom, wanted this Memorial to be able to be displayed in North Carolina or South Carolina by anyone interested. Well after we displayed it the first time, on Memorial Day Weekend in Statesvlle NC it has traveled to a few places, one is:

Arlington North

A tribute to the United States and Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan

In my old home state at one of the Ski Resorts.


Now you can also help another Gold Star Mom achieve her dream in Memory of her son and to Help Returning Veterans as well as other conflicts Veterans:

Sergeant Patrick Ryan McCaffrey Foundation for War Veterans

Please visit the Veterans Village.org for further information.


Mission

The mission of Patrick McCaffrey’s Foundation is to promote mental and holistic wellness and palliative care among veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by providing a live-in retreat village, wherein with the help of trained professional staff and volunteers, veterans will find inner healing and an eventual re-entry into society. The Patrick McCaffrey Foundation, named after Sergeant Patrick R. McCaffrey, the first California National Guard, since WWII, (from the 579th Engineer Battalion from Petaluma), to lose his life in Iraq on June 22, 2004, is committed to bringing healing and hospice, as well as career counseling and training, to veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its founding member and President, Nadia McCaffrey, mother of Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey, wants to carry on the work her son would have pursued had his life not been curtailed so prematurely. Patrick, who did not expect to be deployed to Iraq, decided to honor the commitment he made to help people by going to Iraq as a leader and Combat Life Saver, bringing healing and love to his fellow soldiers and the Iraqi children.