Putnam County to Honor Gold Star Mothers on Sept. 25

Putnam County Joint Veterans Council, the Veterans Service Agency, County Executive MaryEllen Odell and the County Legislature invite the public to Gold Star Mothers’ Day starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Veterans Memorial Park off Gipsy Trail Road in Kent.

Gold Star Mothers was loosely organized in 1925 by Grace Darling Siebold of Washington, D.C., who lost her son, George, during World War I. Following his death, Siebold devoted her time and efforts to not only visiting hospitals where returning veterans were recovering but also to extending the hand of friendship to other mothers who lost their sons during the war. She named the organization for the Gold Star that families of deceased veterans hung in their windows.

Then, on June 4, 1928, 24 of these special mothers met Siebold in Washington, DC to establish the national organization American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., a nondenominational, non-profitable and nonpolitical organization.

On January 5, 1929, the organization was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. The Charter was kept open for 90 days during which membership escalated to 65. Today, there are approximately 1,000 Gold Star Mothers across the nation.

Just as when it was founded, Gold Star Mothers continue to provide emotional support to its members, do volunteer work with veterans and in veterans’ hospitals, and generally foster a sense of patriotism and respect for all members of the Armed Forces.