[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E866-E867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING OUR GOLD STAR MOTHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON D. FOX

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 1998

  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
our Gold Star Mothers who have suffered the terrible losses of their 
sons and daughters for the defense of our nation. These young men and 
women were in the prime of life, full of hope and youthful promise, 
when they died defending their country and preserving our freedom.
  Their loss was and is heart-breaking for the families and friends 
left behind. And--enjoying the long period of peace and freedom that 
these young American service men and women bought so dearly--we are in 
danger of forgetting their great sacrifice.
  But there is one group of fine Americans who are uniquely able to 
make sure that the rest of us do not forget. They are the Gold Star 
Mothers. Each one lost a child who died in the military service of our 
country during this of war.
  I am proud and grateful that we have a strong and active group of 
Gold Star Mothers in the Delaware Valley region including the 13th 
District of Pennsylvania which I represent in Congress.
  The cast of ``Reflections'' is composed of students from Erdenheim 
Elementary School in Springfield Township, Montgomery County and 
students from Upper Dublin High School from Fort Washington, 
Pennsylvania as well as students from Thomas Edison and Olney High 
Schools in Philadelphia. The play is a retrospective of our patriotism 
and a testament to the sacrifices our country has asked of its mothers.
  The Play was written, produced and directed by one of my 
constituents, Vietnam Veteran Frank ``Bud'' Kowalewski. I commend his 
tireless work in offering our young people the opportunity to honor 
lost lives, and teaching them the nature of valor and patriotism. The 
play strives to educate the nation on the sacrifices made by Gold Star 
Mothers. I congratulate the cast on their achievements in reminding us 
all the true reason we celebrate Memorial Day in America.
  On May 21st, 1998, the cast, dressed in historical period costumes, 
will accompany a local Gold Star Mother on a trip to Buffalo, New York. 
There, the cast will perform with students from Riverside High School 
in their Memorial Day Assembly. This production--``Reflections Going 
Home''--is dedicated as a Mother's Day Card Gold Card to all Gold Star 
Mothers.
  Previously, the troupe has traveled to our nation's capital where 
they laid a wreath at the Vietnam War Memorial on the National Mall and 
were honored by Congress just last year.
  The Gold Star Mothers are part of a group that had its roots in the 
first great conflict of the 20th Century--World War I. President 
Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that service flags would be displayed at 
homes that had family members serving the country. Blue Stars were 
displayed for each family member in the Armed Forces. And, as the war 
progressed and casualties mounted, the stars were turned to Gold Stars 
to represent each service member killed defending our country.
  The Gold Star Mothers were officially organized in Washington, DC, in 
1929. But one does not have to be a formal member of the national 
organization to be a Gold Star Mother. The standard for entering this 
revered group of Americans is much, much higher and more difficult than 
simply joining an organization. One must have had a child who made the 
supreme sacrifice for our country. It is a non-profit, non-political 
organization which was first organized by 25 mothers in June 1928 an 
was incorporated on January 5, 1929. In 1936 Congress--in a joint 
resolution--designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star 
Mother's Day. In 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt further recognized 
the day.
  These Gold Star Mothers, perhaps better than anyone else, know the 
agony that comes from caring for, nurturing, and raising up a child 
only to see that young life lost just as it is beginning. But these 
fine Americans deserve the greatest admiration, thanks and respect from 
all of us and I find it remarkable that this group of courageous women 
is that they refuse to allow their grief to become the victor. Instead, 
they chose to channel their pain and suffering into productive work to 
benefit veterans and the community at large.
  These ladies whose loved ones did not make it home devote themselves 
to caring for and helping those who did. In a supreme act of love and 
concern for others, many Gold Star Mothers dedicate themselves to 
helping the children of other mothers, children who survived war. Gold 
Star Mothers assist in all manner of ways. They visit veterans' 
hospitals to help service people there. They take part in patriotic 
observances that help all of us remember the sacrifices that bought our 
freedom.
  But the Gold Star Mothers did not stop there. They wanted to expand 
their opportunities to assist veterans and their families and sought a 
Congressional Charter so they could work in veterans' hospitals 
throughout the country. Their charter was granted in 1984 and outlines 
the objectives and purposes for which they were organized including; 
(1) assisting all veterans and their dependents in claims to the U.S. 
Veterans Administration, (2)

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inspiring respect for our flag, the Stars and Stripes, (3) encouraging 
a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and Union; and 
(4) perpetuating the memory of those whose lives were sacrificed in our 
nation's wars.
  I salute the Gold Star Mothers of the Thirteenth Congressional 
District, the entire Greater Philadelphia area and the Nation as a 
whole. Starting with just 25 members, Gold Star Mothers grew quickly 
and today has members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 
Puerto Rico. All of us should be grateful that our Nation produces men 
and women with the courage and dedication to make the supreme sacrifice 
so that we might be free. We should be thankful too that our Nation has 
mothers whose courage and compassion help make those sacrifices worth 
it and--in the most special way--make sure that the memory of those who 
died for our country lives on.
  God bless the Gold Star Mothers. We humbly offer our tears, humility 
and gratitude as a nation. We pray there will be no more lives 
unnecessarily lost and no more tears. God love and protect all of our 
brave soldiers in this great Nation.

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