[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 39 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Page 1266]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7709--Gold Star Mother's Day, 2003

September 25, 2003

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    As members of America's Armed Forces now protect our country by 
engaging the enemies of freedom in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and on other 
fronts in the war against terrorism, they carry on a noble legacy. 
Today, Americans and millions around the world enjoy freedom because of 
the service and sacrifice of our military men and women.
    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.
    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 the Nation. She 
organized a group of these special mothers to help them comfort each 
other and care for hospitalized veterans. Their organization was named 
after the gold star service flag that families hung in their windows in 
honor of family members who had died in military service. After years of 
planning, it became a national organization in 1928. Since then, brave 
women have continued to come together as Gold Star Mothers to ease the 
burden of their loss and to serve others.
    Today, numerous chapters of Gold Star Mothers across our Nation 
offer important programs and services to enhance the lives of veterans 
and provide support for their families. Their civic education programs 
and help for those in need honor the lives of their sons and daughters 
and strengthen America.
    The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49 
Stat. 1895 as amended), has designated the last Sunday in September as 
``Gold Star Mother's Day,'' and has authorized and requested the 
President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day.
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States 
of America, do hereby proclaim Sunday, September 28, 2003, as Gold Star 
Mother's Day. I call upon all Government officials to display the flag 
of the United States over Government buildings on this solemn day. I 
also encourage the American people to display the flag and hold 
appropriate meetings in their homes, places of worship, or other 
suitable places as a public expression of the sympathy and respect that 
our Nation holds for our Gold Star Mothers.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth 
day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., September 29, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
September 30.