Below is a press release from Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith:
Legislation Seeks to Designate Last Monday of September as “Gold Star Families Day”
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today joined Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and others to introduce the Gold Star Families Day Act to designate the last Monday in September as a federal holiday.
The bipartisan legislation was introduced to establish a holiday observing and recognizing the sacrifices all Gold Star Family members make when a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter or other loved one dies in service to the nation.
“We, as Americans, must do all we can to fulfill our commitment to support the families and loved ones of our fallen service members. Gold Star Families Day gives us a chance to recognize and honor the profound sacrifices Gold Star Families make for our nation,” said Hyde-Smith, who introduced the first-ever Gold Star Families Week resolution in 2018.
This initiative is the latest federal effort to honor the families of the fallen from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.
“It is imperative that Gold Star Families are appreciated, valued, and acknowledged for the ultimate sacrifices that we all have been forced to endure and live through for the rest of our lives, and this holiday would do just that. At a time now when all Gold Star Families have been painfully impacted by what happened in Afghanistan, we need this holiday now more than ever. It would help many of us to know that the loss of our heroes' lives was not in vain. This holiday would be one of the highest forms of gratitude that Gold Star Families can be shown,” wrote Sheila Mitchell-Murphy, mother of SPC Etienne J. Murphy who died on May 26, 2017, in Syria as part of U.S. security operations.
“As the national provider of compassionate care and resources for all those grieving the death of a military loved one, TAPS is grateful to Senators Warren and Ernst for introducing the Gold Star Families Day Act. This important legislation will create a federal holiday to honor the tremendous sacrifice of ALL loved ones of those who served and died. We look forward to its swift passage.” wrote Bonnie Carroll, President & Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).
In addition to Hyde-Smith, Ernst, and Warren, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the legislation.
Click here to read the Gold Star Families Day Act.
