*Luminaries leading up the walk of a house in honor of Gold Star Family Day.
(Image used with permission).

The History of Gold Star Family Day

Shortly after World War I, the Gold Star Mothers Club was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers who lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a Service Flag in their windows. A Service Flag would have a star for each family member in the military embroidered on it. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star and those who were killed in action were represented by a gold star.

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was founded in 1929, after receiving a charter from Congress. It was founded by 25 mothers living in the Washington, D.C. area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups across the nation. On June 23, 1936, a joint Congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day.

Gold Star Mother's Day has been observed each year since 1936 by presidential proclamation—beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt and continuing through to the present day. Beginning in 2009, the last Sunday in September—originally designated as "Gold Star Mother's Day"—is now designated as "Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day" by an annual presidential proclamation.