Gold Star Mothers
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. (AGSM), is a private nonprofit organization of American mothers who lost sons or daughters in service of the United States Armed Forces. It was originally formed in 1928 for mothers of those lost in World War I, and it holds a congressional charter under Title 36 § 211 of the United States Code.
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Its name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a service flag in the windows of their homes. The service flag had a star for each family member in the Armed Forces. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives in combat were represented by a gold star.
Membership in the organization is open to any woman who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident that has lost a son or daughter in active service in the U.S. military, regardless of the place or time of the military service, regardless of whether the circumstances of death involved hostile conflict or not, and including mothers of those missing in action.
Symbolic Origin
On May 28, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson approved a suggestion made by the Council of National Defense that, instead of wearing conventional mourning for relatives who have 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 has given his life for the nation.
The Service Flag displayed from homes, places of business, churches, schools, etc., to indicate the number of members of the family or organizations who are serving in the Armed Forces or who have died from such service. Service flags have a deep Blue Star for each living member in the service and a Gold Star for each member who has died.
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Thus, the Gold Star and the term Gold Star Mother, as applied to mothers whose sons or daughters died in World War I, were accepted; they have continued to be used in reference to all American military engagements since that time.
Virtual Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC honors those who died in the Vietnam War. Their relatives and friends leave letters, poems, and photographs at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and on the wall’s website. Curators of the site bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial into peoples’ homes to help remember the sacrifices of the fallen and their families.
Every Tarrant County Vietnam War-era veteran listed on this site is linked to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Virtual Wall website where more detailed information about each servicemember is readily available.
Honor States
Honor States is dedicated to presenting vital achievements, recognition, affiliations, awards, and images that honor fallen U.S. service members. It’s how the Honor States originators want to thank all who served, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They deserve special recognition.
Furthermore, each state that uniquely contributed and sacrificed during wartime is recognized and thanked. The site was created to honor those who gave all, and to honor their home, residency and enlistment states.