Gold+Star+Mothers+in+WWI

GOLD STAR MOTHERS
By: Sophia Strickler

History
During World War I a woman named Grace Seibold (below, left) lost her son, First Lieutenant George Vaughn Seibold, to the war. Grace Seibold was already volunteering in the hospitals during World War I. However she wanted to do more. Mrs. Seibold organized a group of women to care for, support and confront other woman who had suffered the loss of their sons. The woman also helped care for veterans that had been hospitalized far from home. The organization got it ' s name " Gold Star " because families put gold stars in their windows, or on flags with gold stars in support for members in the war (below, middle). Also women would wear black bands around their left arms, with gold stars on them representing each man they had lost to the war. Women would also put blue stars on flags to represent other members of their family who were fighting in the war at that time, if the member died the blue star would become a gold star. In 1918 Woodrow Wilson approved this organization and it's efforts. After 25 years the women involved made the organization "American Gold Star Mothers" nationally official.

Today
Today the Gold Star Mothers have almost one thousand members. The group was founded to support mothers who have suffered loss of family through war. This is still the goal of the organization today. Membership for the group is open to any mother who has lost a son or daughter has died while serving in the armed forces. Depending on the situation step moms and adoptive parents are eligible for membership. Most often they are accepted. Gold Star Mothers is made up of what are referred to as chapters. A chapter is defined created by having 5 local members. These woman can run the chapter however they want, but the goal is to support each other. If there is no chapter available women may join the organization as a whole in general. Recently in 2005 The Gold Star Mothers accepted their first non-citizen member. A Jamacian woman by the name of Carmen Palmer. Carmen Palmer's son Marine Cpl. Bernard Gooden, died at age twenty two in two thousand and three in Iraq. The Gold Star Mothers had not accepted non-citizens for seventy seven years, however there were cases of upset because of this. One of the more notable ones was the rejection of the application from a woman named Ligaya Lagman. Ligaya Lagman had a son named Anthony die while he was serving in Afghanistan.

Men
Although the group is call Gold Star Mothers, men are also permitted to join. It is slightly on the rare side but fathers that wish to support the group may join. Men do not get a opportunity to vote, however they can also seek emotional support from other who have lost children to the war.

Uniform:
Gold Star Mothers have a uniform they are required to wear for events such as parades, meetings, memorial services, or Memorial Day, and any other military events in general. Women wear white tops, skirts, socks, shoes, and hats. On the lapel of their white jackets are embroidered golden stars. They also have hats with gold stars embroidered on them. Sometimes, as photographed below, women buy yellow roses to lay on alters in respect for the lost sons.

**Main Goals of Gold Star Mothers:**

 * Support women who suffered losses of their sons.
 * Keep alive and develop respect and spirt for the men who have given up their lives in war.
 * Promote peace and good will through America.
 * Inspire respect for Americans who have died in war.

Sources: www.goldstarmoms.com/WhoWeAre/History/History.htm www.west-point.org/family/bicent/goldstar/goldmothers.html www.army.mil/goldstarmothers/ www.armylive.dodlive.mil www.bluestarmothers.org