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Gold Star Family Remembrance Week

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 24, 2024
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize this week as Gold Star Family Remembrance Week.

Every September, Gold Star Family Remembrance Week takes place the week before Gold Star Mother's Day, which has been observed by Presidential proclamations on the last Sunday of September since 1936.

The Gold Star symbol, a significant reminder of sacrifice, originated in 1917, when United States began its involvement in World War I.

Families would hang banners to represent a family member in the armed services. If the family member passed in combat, the family would change the banner from a blue star to a gold star, a symbol of the highest honor and most profound loss.

We will never know the exact number of Gold Star families. However, according to the National Gold Star Family Registry, at least 472,251 fallen military members are registered by loved ones. At least 36,584 of those servicemembers have been registered in my home State of Pennsylvania.

As an Army dad, I am blessed that my son returned home. I am aware that this is not the case for all families, and we must take the time to remember, respect, and honor the families of our fallen servicemembers.

I look forward to supporting efforts, such as Gold Star Family Remembrance Week, to honor and remember our fallen servicemembers and their families. This week recognizes the loss and sacrifices of families in support of fallen members of the Armed Forces, as well as veterans.

I look forward to supporting legislative efforts to honor this occasion and encourage my fellow Americans to perform acts of community service and goodwill to honor those families.

Our servicemembers are the bravest among us. They answer the call to protect and defend our country in times of war and in times of peace.

This important week is a time to remember the families of the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, let us all take a moment to remember that our freedom is not free.

We cannot begin to imagine the loss and the pain these families have experienced. Gold Star families have lost a loved one in the name of protecting our freedom, and they deserve our gratitude every day.

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