[Title 32 CFR 578.25]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY]
[Subchapter F - PERSONNEL]
[Part 578 - DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES]
[Sec. 578.25 - Accolade and Gold Star lapel button.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


32NATIONAL DEFENSE32002-07-012002-07-01false578.25Sec. 578.25NATIONAL DEFENSEDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYPERSONNELDECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
Sec. 578.25  Accolade and Gold Star lapel button.

    (a) As a token of appreciation and in recognition of services 
rendered by those who died in the service of their country, an Accolade 
signed by the President is issued to the next of kin of record of all 
military personnel whose death occurred in line of duty during World War 
II, December 7, 1941, to July 25, 1947, both dates inclusive, and in 
Korea during military operations from June 27, 1950, to July 27, 1954, 
inclusive. The Accolade is also issued to the next of kin of civilians 
who died overseas or as a result of injury or disease contracted while 
serving in a civilian capacity with the Armed Forces of the United 
States during the dates and/or in the areas prescribed above in 
connection with military personnel.
    (1) The Accolade reads as follows:

    In grateful memory of------------------ who died in the service of 
his (her) country at------------------. He (she) stands in the unbroken 
line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow, 
and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it he (she) 
lives--in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men. (Facsimile 
signature) President of the United States.

    (2) Accolades will be issued by The Adjutant General upon receipt of 
reports of death.
    (b) In order to provide an appropriate identification for widows, 
parents, and certain next of kin of members of the Armed Forces of the 
United States who lost their lives in World War I, April 6, 1917 to 
March 3, 1921; World War II, September 8, 1939 to July 25, 1947; Korean 
operations, June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954; or during any subsequent war 
or period of armed hostilities in which the United States may be 
engaged, a Gold Star lapel button was established by an Act of Congress 
on August 1, 1947.
    (1) The Gold Star lapel button consists of a gold star on a purple 
circular background, bordered in gold and surrounded by gold laurel 
leaves. On the reverse is the inscription ``United States of America, 
Act of Congress, August 1947,'' with space for engraving the initials of 
the recipient.
    (2) One Gold Star lapel button will be furnished without cost to the 
widow or widower and to each of the parents of a member of the Armed 
Forces who lost his or her life while in the active military service 
during the periods indicated above. The term ``widow or widower'' 
includes those who have since remarried, and the term ``parents'' 
included mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through 
adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco 
parentis.
    (3) One Gold Star lapel button will be furnished at cost price to 
each child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half brother, 
sister, and half sister of a member of the Armed Forces

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who lost his or her life during any period indicated herein.
    (4) Letter applications for Gold Star lapel buttons may be submitted 
to The Adjutant General or to the Commanding Officer, Army Records 
Center, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, by eligible next 
of kin of deceased Army personnel enumerated in paragraphs (b) (2) and 
(3) of this section.
    (5) Under the act, only one Gold Star lapel button will be furnished 
to eligible individuals, except that whenever a Gold Star lapel button 
has been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use, without fault or 
neglect on the part of the person to whom it was furnished, such button 
may be replaced at cost price upon application to The Adjutant General. 
Private manufacture and/or sale of the Gold Star lapel button is 
prohibited. The design will not be incorporated in any manner in any 
article manufactured commercially or privately. The law prescribes a 
fine of $1,000 and/or imprisonment for 2 years as a penalty for 
unauthorized wearing or counterfeiting of the Gold Star lapel button, or 
for possessing a counterfeit of this button.