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| GOLD STAR FAMILY |
The history of the blue and gold star banners is as patriotic and touching as the symbolism each star represents to the families that display them. President Wilson became part of this history when in 1918 he approved a suggestion made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses that mothers who had lost a child serving in the war to wear a gold gilt star on the customary black mourning arm band. This led to the practice to cover the blue star with a gold star on the Service flag to indicate that the service member has died or been killed. The color of the stars is also symbolic in that the blue star represents hope and pride and the gold star represents sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom. During World War II, the practice of displaying the Service flag became much more widespread. Virtually every home and organization displayed banners to indicate the number of members of the family or organization serving in the Armed Forces, and again, covered those blue stars with a gold star to represent each member that died. |
On Monday, May 28, 2007 during the Memorial Day Service held in Jeffersonville Indiana, Vanessa A. Coulter, Chapter President of the Southern Indiana Blue Star Mothers, Indiana Chapter #2 presented the poems and certificate shown below to Pamela Gilkey, mother of Sgt. James Daniel Faulkner. |
The poems shown above were written byy Lloyd A. King, Jr. Mr. King served as a
non-commissioned officer in the infantry with the 101st Airborne Division-
Airmobile during 1968 and 1969, the worst years of the war.
Lloyd is a highly decorated soldier having received the Silver Star … our nation’s
fourth highest medal, the Soldier’s Medal, the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts,
two Air Medals, and nearly a dozen other medals and ribbons including the
highest individual medal awarded by the Republic of South Vietnam, the RVN
Gallantry Cross with Gold Star.
Lloyd considers himself very blessed to be alive. Wounded twice, he
experienced many of life’s terrible adversities firsthand…and somehow survived.
Through seeing death, fear, killing, and atrocity, he learned about his own
mental and physical capabilities and limitations.
Lloyd is the author of two books and numerous poems describing his
experiences. Our family takes much comfort in his poetry and compassion.
Please visit his website.
non-commissioned officer in the infantry with the 101st Airborne Division-
Airmobile during 1968 and 1969, the worst years of the war.
Lloyd is a highly decorated soldier having received the Silver Star … our nation’s
fourth highest medal, the Soldier’s Medal, the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts,
two Air Medals, and nearly a dozen other medals and ribbons including the
highest individual medal awarded by the Republic of South Vietnam, the RVN
Gallantry Cross with Gold Star.
Lloyd considers himself very blessed to be alive. Wounded twice, he
experienced many of life’s terrible adversities firsthand…and somehow survived.
Through seeing death, fear, killing, and atrocity, he learned about his own
mental and physical capabilities and limitations.
Lloyd is the author of two books and numerous poems describing his
experiences. Our family takes much comfort in his poetry and compassion.
Please visit his website.
| A Gold Star Mother Remembering Her Son |
