One of the most sacred symbols associated with the military is the gold star awarded to the mothers of KIA soldiers.
During World War I, American Women who had family members serving their country wore a blue star around their left arm. As this conflict progressed and the number of dead escalated, mothers wanted to express their loss, as well as the pride and honor they felt for their country. A suggestion of sewing a gold star over the blue star was made by The Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense. This group presented the idea to President Woodrow Wilson and the practice was adopted in 1918.
On June 4, 1928, twenty-five mothers in Washington D. C. banded together to form a non-profit organization designated as the American Gold Star Mothers. This group espoused all religious faiths and political beliefs and by January 5, 1929, they incorporated. Eventually each state would organize their own chapters and affiliate with the members from Washington.
As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders I’ve had the honor to meet a lot of Gold Star mothers — and at each funeral, the local Gold Star mothers present a Gold Star banner to the mother of the dead soldier.
It’s always an overwhelmingly powerful and emotional ceremony.
And body who has ever served in the military fully understands the sacred symbolism of the Gold Star presentations.
Which makes this extremely disgraceful:
The Texas Progressive Alliance with Vince at the helm recently chose to award Rick Noriega and his wife Melissa with “Gold Stars.â€
The term “gold star†should not be thrown around this easily and I am amazed that Noriega who often mentions his military credentials would choose to accept an award that is only given to the family members of fallen soldiers.
Gold Star Family Support.com has this to say:â€Gold Star†is a generic term used to describe a family member who has lost a loved one in military service.
The Texas Progressive Alliance — is there nothing so sacred and respected by the military that the left isn’t willing to disgrace or desecrate? Maybe you could come up with some kind of heart-shaped, purple award for your alliance, too.
Rep. Noriega (who is also a Lt. Colonel in the Army National Guard) — you should know better. You should have politely declined the award, and used the opportunity to educate the Texas Progressive Alliance on what a Gold Star presentation really means.
Wow. My kid’s elementary school teacher gives him gold stars. That commie B1TCH!
I hear she even gives gold stars to kids in military families. And they accept it! Shouldn’t they know better?
I hear the TPA gave out Silver Stars too. I bet that has some military meaning they clearly intended to desecrate as well.
Instead of, you know, meaning it as a general positive reinforcement like the rest of society means it.
Left by Home Schooler on December 22nd, 2007 at 1:06 pm