[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 25248-25249]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 605) supporting the goals and ideals 
of Gold Star Mothers Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 605

       Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers have suffered the 
     supreme sacrifice of motherhood by losing a son or daughter 
     who served in the Armed Forces, and thus perpetuate the 
     memory of all whose lives are sacrificed in war;
       Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers assist veterans of 
     the Armed Forces and their dependents in the presentation of 
     claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs and aid members 
     of the Armed Forces who served and died or were wounded or 
     incapacitated during hostilities;
       Whereas the services rendered to the United States by the 
     mothers of America have strengthened and inspired Americans 
     throughout the history of the United States;
       Whereas Americans honor themselves and the mothers of 
     America when they revere and emphasize the role of the home 
     and the family as the true foundations of the United States;
       Whereas by doing so much for the home, the American mother 
     is a source of moral and spiritual guidance for the people of 
     the United States and thus acts as a positive force to 
     promote good government and peace among all mankind; and
       Whereas September 30, 2007, is being recognized as Gold 
     Star Mothers Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day; 
     and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe such 
     day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H. 
Res. 605, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers 
Day.
  H. Res. 605, which has 108 cosponsors, was introduced by 
Representative Peter Roskam on August 1, 2007.
  H. Res. 605 was reported from the Oversight Committee on September 
20, 2007 by voice vote.
  Mr. Speaker, Gold Star Mothers Day is an organization for mothers who 
have lost a son or daughter in service to our country. In 1940, 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the last Sunday in September 
as Gold Star Mothers Day to recognize and commemorate the tremendous 
sacrifice these courageous mothers have endured on behalf of our 
Nation. This wonderful group of women have turned their personal 
tragedy into patriotism and public service.
  Today, numerous chapters of Gold Star Mothers across our Nation offer 
important programs and services to improve the lives of veterans and 
their families. They assist veterans of the Armed Forces and their 
dependents in the presentation of claims to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.
  I support the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day. And I have 
the utmost respect for mothers and fathers that have sacrificed their 
sons and daughters for peace, freedom and the security of our Nation.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Peter 
Roskam, for introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I, too, applaud Peter Roskam of Illinois for his introduction of this 
resolution. He had every intention of being here, but unfortunately he 
missed his plane, so he is not able to make it at this time.

[[Page 25249]]

  During World War I, Grace Seibold's son, George, served with the 
British Royal Flying Corps in France. While on combat duty, he 
regularly sent letters home to his family in Washington, DC. Around 
Christmas of 1918, the letters stopped and the Seibold family never 
heard from him again. Because his military unit was under British 
control, the U.S. had no information of his whereabouts or safety. 
After months of waiting, they received notice of his death.
  Throughout the war, Grace Seibold had been spending her time visiting 
with soldiers in military hospitals and providing solace and assistance 
with their recuperation. After her own son's death, she met with fellow 
mothers of soldiers who had been killed serving their country.
  The women began to share their grief and quickly found support for 
each other. Their uncommon bond brought them closer and helped them to 
heal. The group also encouraged community service by volunteering at 
local hospitals for veterans.
  After years of careful planning, in June of 1928, 25 mothers joined 
in Washington, DC to form the American Gold Star Mothers, Incorporated. 
The mission of the organization is to honor the men and women who made 
the ultimate sacrifice for their country and to assist veterans with 
processing claims made to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The service provided by the Gold Star Mothers does not end there. 
They inspire patriotism and love of country. They promote peace and 
goodwill through annual special events. The Gold Star Mothers work in 
cooperation with all veterans organizations and lend their support 
giving many hours of volunteer work and personal service to veteran 
families. It is an organization that inspires community service, honor 
of country, and takes great pride in having our brave men and women 
serving in our Armed Forces.
  I am proud to honor these brave women for their continued efforts and 
their tireless support of our Nation.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I will close by simply stating 
that I have a very active, passionate and involved chapter of Gold Star 
Mothers in my congressional district. And so on behalf of them, and all 
of the Gold Star Mothers and Fathers throughout the country, I would 
urge passage of this resolution.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of those 
American mothers who have lost children in the service of our country. 
As a cosponsor of H. Res. 605, I strongly support this resolution to 
recognize their great sacrifice and suffering.
  The Gold Star Mothers Club was formed in the United States to provide 
support for mothers that lost sons or daughters in war. The name came 
from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a 
Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star 
for each family member in the military. Living servicemen were 
represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives were 
represented by a gold star. Today, membership in the Gold Star Mothers 
is open to any American woman who has lost a son or daughter in service 
to the United States. On the last Sunday in September, Gold Star 
Mother's Day is observed in the U.S. in their honor.
  American Gold Star Mothers is a nationwide organization first 
incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1929 after years of effort 
by the mother of a deceased airman fighting in World War I. In the 
years following, the organization has grown to include members and 
chapters across the country.
  The responsibility of motherhood is vast and as our mothers raise 
their children, they do so with great hope. This hope does not involve 
losing a child to war but raising a son or daughter that strives to 
change the world for the better. This bill acknowledges that those 
mothers have succeeded in that goal and we, too, recognize the ultimate 
sacrifice their children have made. H. Res. 605 supports the Gold Star 
Mothers and ensures that their sacrifice and that of their children 
will not be forgotten.
   Mr. Speaker, again, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 605 and urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn 
observance of ``Gold Star Mother's Day'', on Sunday, September 30th.
  More than 75 years ago, one mother's determination to transform her 
personal loss into good works led to the creation of the American Gold 
Star Mothers. After receiving notice of her son's death in aerial 
combat during World War I, Grace Darling Seibold devoted her energy to 
volunteering in a local hospital. She began reaching out to other 
mothers whose sons had died in military service to our Nation, and 
these women organized into a local group.
  Their organization was named after the gold star service flag that 
families hung in their windows for family members who had died in 
military service. After years of planning, it became a national 
organization in 1928. In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday of 
September as ``Gold Star Mother's Day.''
  Since then, brave women have continued to come together as Gold Star 
Mothers to ease the burden of their loss and to serve others.
  The cost of America's freedom is often personal. Few pay more dearly 
than our Gold Star Mothers, who have endured the death of a son or 
daughter in service to our country.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, 
Representative Roskam for introducing H. Res. 605, in support of Gold 
Star Mothers. Gold Star Mothers is a tremendous organization that 
honors our nation's brave sons and daughters in the Armed Services that 
have made the ultimate sacrifice. Gold Star Mother's outreach and 
volunteer efforts help to bring comfort and solace to family members 
and loved ones during their time of need. My stepson Doug and his wife 
Lindsay continue to serve overseas in the Marines so I greatly 
appreciate the support and devotion the Gold Star Mothers have for our 
Armed Forces and Veterans. I am also proud to have Georgianna C. Krell, 
a past and future National President of Gold Star Mothers from my 
Congressional District. Georgianna's son PFC Bruce Carter was killed 
defending our nation on August 7th 1969 in Vietnam. Private Carter was 
posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in battle. It 
is with great pleasure that I have been working with Georgianna to have 
our local VA hospital in Miami renamed after her son and I look forward 
to my continued relationship with Georgianna and Gold Star Mothers to 
honor our Nation's heroes.
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, Texas' mothers have sent more sons and 
daughters overseas for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom than any other state in America. We have endured more 
casualties than any other state but one.
  The American Gold Star Mothers in Texas and throughout this great 
nation have suffered the supreme sacrifice of motherhood by losing a 
child who served in the Armed Forces, and thus perpetuate the memory of 
all whose lives are sacrificed in war. Their sons and daughters served 
their country honorably and gave what Lincoln called ``last full 
measure of devotion.''
  To these soldiers, we are grateful and humbled by their sacrifice. 
And to the Gold Star Mothers who have lost children our thoughts and 
prayers are with you always.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 605.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________