Honor memory of Gold Star mothers

Memorial Day is on May 26.

It is a solemn day when communities and families gather to read off the names of the fallen and remember their sacrifice and service.

As we rightly remember the fallen service members who have given “that last full measure of devotion,” it is also important to remember those who sent their sons off to war for them to never return.

Behind every name on memorials to those who have fallen in defense of freedom, are Gold Star mothers whose boys never came home.

They are people like Gladys Mintz mother of Thomas Newell who was killed in action in Waegwan Korea on August 15,1950.

Mrs. Robert Dietzler mother of Sylvester Dietzler who was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 11,1945.

Bernadine Cypher mother of Raymond Cypher who was killed in Livery, France on January 22,1945.

Frieda Klossner, mother of Carlyle Klossner who was killed In action on December 26,1944.

Mary Pleus, mother of William Pleus who was killed in action over Tokyo, Japan on January 27,1945.

Hildegard Jentzsch, mother of Donald Jentzsch who was killed in action in Korea on September 29,1952.

Mrs. Conrad Bach, mother of Lyman Bach who was killed in action near Saigon, South Vietnam on June 2, 1969.

Mrs. Leo Mahner, mother of Lin Mahner who was killed in action in Binh Thur, Vietnam on May 25,1969.

Mrs. Joe Tomczk, mother of Victor Tomcyzk who was killed in action near Dau Tieng, South Vietnam on January 2,1968.

These are just a handful of the list of Gold Star mothers from this area. Across every conflict there are those who carry the burden of loss.

Gold Star mothers came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the United States Armed Forces. Living servicemen were represented by a blue star, and those who had lost their lives were represented by a gold star.

In recent conflicts in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of American troops have died, leaving grieving families. There are also thousands of living Gold Star family members who lost loved ones in both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts.

According to the Gold Star Foundation, a Gold Star family is one that has experienced a loss of a loved onean immediate family member - who died as the result of active-duty military service.

Those who die in service to their country leave behind parents, siblings, spouses, children and extended families. These are recognized as Gold Star families. The title is meant to honor the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging their family’s loss, grief, and continued healing.

Gold Star families are in the forefront of the thoughts of military families especially this time of year with Memorial Day to be held in just a few weeks.

Memorial Day, along with Veterans Day, are national holidays that honor the sacrifice of Americans.

According to the Memorial Day Foundation, though both observances commemorate the sacrifices of thousands of American service members, they are distinctly different. Memorial Day is the older of the two holidays, having its roots in the Civil War. First known as Decoration Day, it was instituted by former Union Army Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, to honor those who died in the armed forces. Logan, later a U.S. senator from Illinois, became the first commander-in-chief of the organization of Union veterans called the Grand Army of the Republic.

With General Orders No. 11, Logan designated May 30, 1868, “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country” and conduct special services as circumstances permitted. “Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic,” he declared. He also asked that the nation renew its pledge to assist the soldiers’ and sailors’ widows and orphans.

Take time this Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have sacrificed for America and for the Gold Star families they have left behind.