Overview of American Gold Star Mother's Inc
The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. (AGSM) is a private, nonprofit organization that honors the memory of mothers and families who have lost a child in military service. The organization's history is rooted in the tradition of displaying gold stars in windows to symbolize a family member who died in war:
World War I
Families displayed blue stars in their windows to indicate that a family member was serving in the military. If a family member died, the blue star was replaced with a gold star.
1928
Grace Darling Seibold and 25 other mothers founded the AGSM in Washington, D.C. The organization's name comes from the gold stars that families displayed.
1936
The United States began observing Gold Star Mother's Day on the last Sunday of September.
1942
Membership in the AGSM was expanded to include mothers who lost a child in World War II.
Today
The AGSM continues to support mothers and families who have lost a child in military service.
The AGSM's membership criteria are not based on the time or place of military service, or whether the death was in combat. The organization also allows membership for mothers of missing in action service members.
Gold Star Mother's San Jose Chapter
Our Story
"In every ending, there is a beginning."
On March 28, 1949, the San Jose Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was established. The San Jose Chapter includes Gold Star others from the San FranciscoBay Area to Central Valley.
The success of our organization continues because of the bond of mutual love, sympathy, and support of the loyal, capable, and patriotic mothers who share their grief and their pride, and have channeled their time, efforts and gifts to lessening the pain of others.
We stand tall and proud, fulfilling our mission by honoring our children and preserving their memory by continuing their service to the military community, assisting our veterans, supporting our nation and healing with each other.
During World War I, our American Gold Star Mothers' founder, Grace Darling Seibold, always wore white when performing community service while visiting returning servicemen in hospitals in Washington, DC.
Today, we all wear white at formal Gold Star events/missions, which symbolizes peace - the one thing that Gold Star Mothers of every generation have prayed for. White also represents both the sacrifices of our children and the grace, purity and innocence of those who have died to create a world of freedom. These values are a statement that goes beyond mourning, and the American Gold Star Mothers wear white when performing our mission.
Current 2024-2025 Chapter Board Members
Suzy Maddox
Co-President
Mother of
SGT Matthew W. Maddox
Roxane Langevin
Vice President
Mother of
CPL Sean K.A. Langevin
Juila Conover
Treasurer
Mother of
LCPL Brandon C. Dewey
Jan Martinez
Secretary
Mother of
PFC Jesse J. Martinez
Cheryl Walsh
Co-President
Mother of
CANG MP SPC Sean W. Walsh
Kathy Buob
Chaplain
Mother of
SBC Zacharias E. Buob, SWCC
Loretta Bridges
Chaplain
(Northen CA Dept)
Mother of
SSGT Steven H. Bridges
Bell Across America
Bells Across America for Fallen Service Members is a Navy event that takes place annually in September to honor service members who died while on active duty:
• Date: Last Thursday in September, 9–9:45 AM PST
• Purpose: To recognize the sacrifices of fallen service members and their families
• Activities: The names of fallen service members are read aloud, and a bell is tolled in remembrance
The Navy Gold Star Program, which was established in 2014, provides support to the families of fallen service members. The program hosts events to honor Gold Star Families, and offers resources and opportunities for them to connect with each other and the Navy family.
Navy Gold Star is an inclusive program – regardless of your loved one’s military branch, location, or manner of death. Our commitment to you is that regardless of the branch of service, we will provide you with support and help you locate your branch’s survivor services. Navy Gold Star support coordinators provide dedicated outreach and support when, and for as long as, you desire. Our coordinators are located all over the United States and are ready to help you in any way they can.
Your loved one has given the ultimate sacrifice, and we know that there is nothing we can say or do that will completely comfort you in your loss. There is no greater calling than to serve our nation with honor. We are dedicated to delivering on the promise of taking care of our own by providing support to surviving families. For us, there is no greater duty than to support the families of those who have died in service to our nation.
Eligibility
Personnel eligible to participate in the NGS program include the widow (remarried or not); widower (remarried or not); each parent (mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption and foster parents who stood in loco parentis); each child; each sibling; each half-sibling; each stepsibling; each stepchild; and each adopted child of the Service Member.
Participation in the Navy Gold Star program does not provide or grant authorization to Survivors for additional benefits/privileges beyond what the Survivor was entitled to prior to the death of the service member.
Gold Star Pins
Requests for Gold Star Lapel Buttons and Next of Kin Lapel Pins: Eligible Family Members of Sailors who lost their lives may request a replacement of Gold Star Lapel Pin and Next of Kin Lapel Pin by reaching out to your local Navy Gold Star Coordinator for assistance or by submitting DD Form 3,
Application for Gold Star Lapel Button and mailing it to:
Navy Personnel Command
Navy Casualty Office (PERS-00C)
ATTN: Long Term Assistance Program
5720 Integrity Dr.
Millington, TN 38055
Wreaths Across America
To make a donation to Wreath Across America for a wreath that will be laid at a veterans grave site at Oak Hill Memorial Park by the American old Star Mother’s Chapter Inc and other volunteers, please use the following link at the URL: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ca0046p
For each wreath purchased for $17.00, $5.00 will be donated to American Gold Star Mother’s Chapter Inc. These funds will go towards events and activities for veterans. Thank you for your donations to purchase a wreath for veterans’ gravesites
Gold Star
The Blue Star turns to gold in the event of killed in action (KIA), died from wounds sustained or military training accidents.
Those who have lost loved ones to service never forget where they were when they received the news. It’s something they will carry with them forever: the day blue turned to gold.
The Gold Star allowed members of the community to know the price that the family has paid for the cause of freedom. Hence the term “Gold Star Family.” Individual military family members who lost a loved one also started to be referred to as “Gold Star Wives,” “Gold Star Mothers,” etc.
The strength of our nation is our Military Servicemen and women, and their strength is their families. The Nation recognizes that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen. That is why we do what we do.