When a military service member dies in the line of duty, the family receives The Gold Star to commemorate the miliary member’s service and life, while recognizing the impact of loss on the family. In 1936, Congress honored those who sacrificed their lives and acknowledged the grief many mothers experience after the loss of their children who served in the military by designating the last Sunday of September as “Gold Star Mother’s Day.” In 2011, President Obama changed “Gold Star Mother Day” to “Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day.”

For this reason, I plan to introduce a resolution that would designate September 28, 2025, as “Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day” in Pennsylvania. Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day is a time to show reverence and gratitude for families who have experienced the profound loss of a service member.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution so that we may recognize the impact of the loss of a service member on Gold Star family members, including parents, siblings, and children.