[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 53 (Thursday, March 24, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1771-S1772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING UTAH'S GOLD STAR FAMILIES

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of a grateful nation 
to pay tribute to the unparalleled sacrifices of Utah's Gold Star 
families. Thank you for your commitment to defending the Constitution 
of our great Nation. Thank you for your selfless service to others. And 
thank you for your love of our country, the United States of America. 
It is essential to our Nation's survival that we recognize and remember 
the sacrifices you have made.
  Given the extraordinary nature of your sacrifices, the duty of 
recognizing and remembering them is of utmost importance. Furthermore, 
in a time when our Nation's cardinal values are more regularly 
attacked, this work mends the fraying fabric of freedom. My purpose 
today is to honor all that you, the Gold Star families of Utah, have 
done for our Nation and its citizens.
  On August 1, 2020, a group of Utahns gathered at the North Ogden City 
Hall. There, in the heat of summer, the families, friends, and 
neighbors of fallen soldiers came together with business leaders and 
government officials to dedicate the North Ogden City Gold Star 
Families Memorial Monument. This monument, the first of its kind in 
Utah, but not the last, recognizes and remembers the sacrifices of 
Utah's Gold Star families. A similar monument has been built in St. 
George and will soon be dedicated. The monuments stand as beacons of 
light and hope, tributes to those who have been lost.
  The idea for these monuments was inspired by the work of the Woody 
Williams Foundation whose mission is ``to honor, recognize, and serve 
Gold Star Families and the legacy of their Loved Ones who have paid the 
ultimate sacrifice.'' Their work, which focuses on the philosophical 
pillars of homeland, family, patriot, sacrifice, and legacy, gave North 
Ogden City and St. George a vision of what was possible.
  After seeing the monument in North Ogden City, stakeholders in St. 
George decided they would raise funds, find land, and construct a 
monument of their own. St. George City, with the help of numerous 
residents and businesses began the work of designating space, securing 
over $100,000 of funding, and planning construction for the monument. 
The committee worked tirelessly to unify, educate, heal, and inspire 
others. Months of work led to a beautiful monument which now stands to 
honor Gold Star families and the losses they have endured.
  Eight feet tall and 13 feet wide, the monuments made of solid black 
granite are two-sided tributes to the fallen. One side of each monument 
bears the words: ``Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to 
Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our 
Freedom.'' The other side tells a story across four granite panels 
highlighting the themes of homeland, family, patriot, and sacrifice. 
The most significant component of each monument is a gaping hole at the 
center of the solid granite slabs. The empty space, a silhouette of a 
saluting servicemember, represents the legacy of the loved ones of the 
Gold Star families who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 
Together, these features tell each community's unique story of 
sacrifice.
  On the day of the dedication of the North Ogden monument, powerful 
stories and memories were shared. I want to highlight just a few.
  Kirk Chugg, the director of Follow the Flag North Ogden, said there 
could be ``no better place [for the tribute]. As people go about their 
day, we hope they see the monument and teach their children what it 
means. It publicly proclaims to families that we have not forgotten 
them.''
  ``This will help us remember what America is all about,'' said Debbie 
Allen, mother of the late Lt. Kenneth ``Kage'' Allen. ``I think too 
many people forget what we stand for.''
  James Laselute, of Layton, was there representing his stepson, the 
late Lance Cpl. Quinn Keith. He said: ``For our family, things like 
this help us through the grieving process and remind us that our loved 
one's legacy endures.'' He continued: ``Monuments like this are what 
keeps their name alive.''
  Neal Berube, the mayor of North Ogden City at the time of the 
monument's dedication shared: ``The Gold Star designation dates back to 
World War I, when military families displayed service flags featuring a 
blue star for every immediate family member serving in the Armed 
Forces. The star's color would change to gold if a loved one died so 
the community would know the price the family had paid for freedom.''
  Mayor Berube then concluded: ``The strength of our nation is our 
military. The strength of our military is our soldiers. And the 
strength of our soldiers are our families.''
  As the people of St. George set out to dedicate their Gold Star 
Families Memorial Monument, similar sentiments have been shared. 
Jennifer Moxon, Bronwyn Mount, and Mayor Michele Randall--who, with the 
help of the St. George City Council, staff, and in partnership with the 
Major Brent Taylor Foundation, have helped lead the development of the 
St. George monument--have made powerful statements of gratitude and 
hope.
  Jennifer Moxon, mother of the late Sgt. Douglas Lee Moxon, recently

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wrote: ``We are a family military. The very freedoms that we sometimes 
take for granted are what our sons and daughters fight for every day.'' 
She continued: ``When we lost our son, my perspective changed. The 
sacrifices these servicemembers and their families make every day are 
deserving of respect and honor. This monument allows us to pay tribute 
to the family members who lost loved ones. It is a place where we can 
come, feel peace, and hopefully recognize their sacrifice will never be 
forgotten.''
  Gold Star Mother Bronwyn Mount, mother of the late Sgt. Bryan Cooper 
Mount, recently shared: ``I am constantly surprised by the realization 
that so many people all over the country are remembering and honoring 
Cooper. To have so many people working towards this dedication, for the 
last 20 months, has been humbling to our family. To have multiple 
friends and families be willing to donate to the cost of the memorial 
has touched us deeply. We are so grateful to be able to visit the 
memorial and think of Cooper's, and others', sacrifices. We are 
grateful for a community that cares about the sacrifice.''
  Mayor Michele Randall shared: ``On August 6th, 2020, Sgt. Cooper 
Mount's flag-draped casket arrived at the St. George airport. Moved by 
the emotion and patriotism of the procession from the airport to the 
mortuary, the City of St. George chose to be the second city in Utah to 
install a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in the heart of the city 
at historic Town Square. Saturday, March 26th, 2022, will be the 
dedication of the memorial and the culmination of many hours of work 
and over $100,000 dollars raised by our residents. I cannot wait for 
our community to see this breathtaking monument in remembrance of our 
Gold Star families.''
  I am honored to have the opportunity to highlight the great work that 
so many people freely participated in to make this memorial, which 
recognizes and remembers the sacrifices of Utah's Gold Star families, 
possible. These monuments are not the last of their kind in Utah or in 
the United States. More monuments are being discussed, planned, and 
constructed. The movement to honor Gold Star families across America 
has taken hold of many communities throughout the country.
  Let us not allow this movement to rise in relevance for a moment and 
then fade. Let us recognize and remember, forever, the sacrifices of 
our Nation's Gold Star families.

                          ____________________