Gold Star Mothers

Gold Star Mothers may refer to:

• Gold Star mothers, are women who according to the Department of Defense, the Mother, Stepmother, Adoptive Mother or Foster mother of a son or daughter that died while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States or an international terrorist attack recognized by the Secretary of Defense.
• American Gold Star Mothers a private agency established in 1928
• The Gold Star Lapel Button was established by Act of Congress (Pub. L. 80-306) August 1, 1947, codified at 10 U.S.C. Section 1126 in order to provide an appropriate identification for widows, widowers, parents, and next of kin of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lost their lives:

1. During World War I, April 6, 1917 to March 3, 1921;

2. During World War II, September 8, 1939 to July 25, 1947;

3. During any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged before July 1, 1958 (United Nations action in Korea, June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954);

4. After June 30, 1958

(a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

(b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force;

(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force.

5. After March 28, 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of Defense; or while serving in a military operation while serving outside the United States (including the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States) as part of a peacekeeping force

NOT to be confused with the Gold Star Lapel Button, but sometimes is a different Symbol of Honor given to the families whose loved ones die while enlisted in the Military, but NOT in the war.

Next of Kin Pin This Lapel Pin, Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel is provided to widows(ers), parents, and primary next of kin of armed services members who lose their lives while on active duty or while assigned to an Reserve or National Guard unit in a drill status, but under circumstances that do not qualify you for the Gold Star Lapel Button, you should be entitled to the Next of Kin Lapel Pin. If your loved one was killed during the time period of conflicts, but not in the official area of the conflict you will receive the Next of Kin Lapel Pin. For example, if, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a service member was assigned to a unit in Germany and was killed in a training accident, you would be entitled to the Next of Kin Lapel Pin. The Lapel Button, Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel, is authorized for issue retroactive to March 29, 1973.