Gold Star Spouse Day

April 5th is Gold Star Spouses day. We honor all Gold Star spouses and the tremendous sacrifices that they have been called to make, we look back at the history and evolution of Gold Star Spouse day and how it’s observed today.

Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day origin was started when the mothers and families that had lost a loved one with a simple accessory: a black armband with a gold star. During World War I, family members would wear these armbands to represent a loved one who had died in the war. The blue stars would later find their way to being on a banner that were representing members who were serving. Some would have one star; others would have two or three. The stars symbolized the people who were supposd to be home but were missing from the dinner table. If a family member died during their service, the blue star would be replaced with a gold one.

File Photo

The banner was designed in 1917 by U.S. Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the Fifth Ohio Infantry, in honor of his two sons who were serving in World War I. It was quickly adopted by the public and by the government officials. The copyright has since passed to the United States Department of Defense, which regulates the authorization to manufacture Service Banners.

Grace Darling Seibold was one of the mothers with a gold star in her window. She lost her 23-year-old son, a pilot in World War I, who was never found. She organized about 25 other mothers trying to cope with similar losses. These women banned together in 1928 to create American Gold Star Mother’s Day (now known as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day). That day is celebrated on the last Sunday in September.

Gold Star Spouses Day had its origins back to World War I. The families of servicemen would fly banners and hang them in their windows. A gold, thus notifying the community of the ultimate price that the family had paid. By 1945 the Gold Star Wives Association was established with the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as one of its founding members. Shortly after, the government approved the Golden Star Lapel Button which was presented to spouses and families of those who have lost a member through military service.

The first Gold Star Wives Day was observed in 2010, and eventually, the title was changed to the more inclusive Gold Star Spouse Day.

While neither event is a legal holiday the unifying theme is that Gold Star spouses and family members will not be forgotten. Forever, an important and integral part of our community, we vow to remember the fallen and honor the continuing sacrifices that Gold Star spouses and families make.