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
P2 1WHEREAS, The United States began observing Gold Star
2Mothers’ Day on the last Sunday of September in 1936, and the
3Gold Star Wives was formed before the end of World War II; and
4WHEREAS, Since 2009, United States President Barack Obama
5has issued annual proclamations designating the last Sunday in
6September as Gold Star Mothers’ and Families’ Day; and
7WHEREAS, The strength of our military is built upon the men
8and women who serve in uniform and the families who support
9them; and
10WHEREAS, Since the start of the War on Terrorism more than
116,800 members of the United States Armed Forces have lost their
12lives; and
13WHEREAS, The families of our fallen soldiers have made a
14tremendous sacrifice on behalf of our country; and
15WHEREAS, All Gold Star Families deserve to be recognized
16by our local, state, and federal leaders for their sacrifices and for
17their dedicated and patriotic support of the United States; and
18WHEREAS, Supporting Gold Star Families who have lost loved
19ones to combat demonstrates the commitment of the American
20people to those families now and in the future; and
21WHEREAS, As a nation, we must continually look for new
22ways to support Gold Star Families both in the days immediately
23following the tragedy and in the years that follow; now, therefore,
24be it
25Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
26Assembly hereby proclaims September 25, 2016, as Gold Star
27Mothers’ and Families’ Day in California; and be it further
28Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall transmit
29copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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