P1 1WHEREAS, The history of Gold Star Families began in the
2United States shortly after World War I to provide support for
3mothers who lost sons or daughters in the war; and
4WHEREAS, The reference to the Gold Star comes from the
5custom of families of servicemen or servicewomen hanging a
6service flag in the window of their homes displaying a blue star
7for every living family member in the service and a gold star for
8those who have perished; and
9WHEREAS, The United States began observing Gold Star
10Mothers’ Day on the last Sunday of September in 1936, and the
11Gold Star Wives was formed before the end of World War II; and
12WHEREAS, Since 2009, United States President Barack Obama
13has issued annual proclamations designating the last Sunday in
14September as Gold Star Mothers’ and Families’ Day; and
15WHEREAS, The strength of our military is built upon the men
16and women who serve in uniform and the families who support
17them; and
18WHEREAS, Since the start of the War on Terrorism more than
196,800 members of the United States Armed Forces have lost their
20lives; and
21WHEREAS, The families of our fallen soldiers have made a
22tremendous sacrifice on behalf of our country; and
P2 1WHEREAS, All Gold Star Families deserve to be recognized
2by our local, state, and federal leaders for their sacrifices and for
3their dedicated and patriotic support of the United States; and
4WHEREAS, Supporting Gold Star Families who have lost loved
5 ones to combat demonstrates the commitment of the American
6people to those families now and in the future; now, therefore, be
7it
8Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That as a
9nation we must continually look for new ways to support Gold
10Star Families both in the days immediately following the tragedy
11and in the years that follow; and be it further
12Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall transmit
13copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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