No One Wants a Gold Star

On this Labor Day, I want to remember a group of people who labor within a particular group of individuals or families who never wanted to be members of that special club.  The mothers of this club are remembered on a specific day every year, September 30th, but no one recognizes that day as being set aside for this remembrance.  This day is known as Gold Star Mother's Day. 

"This is not a club any of us wanted to belong to," says Jan Johnson, whose son, Army Spc. Justin Johnson, died in Iraq in April 2004, "but since we are, we must move forward the best way possible."  A motto Gold Star families live by is, "it's not time that heals, it's what we do with the time."  Many families have found ways to assist others who have been hindered by memories or depression.  There are articles on-line if you want to learn more.     

If you haven't figured it out by now, a Gold Star mother is the mother of a son or daughter who  has been killed during wartime.  You've probably seen the banner - a gold star set against a white field, surrounded by red.  Few people know what this banner signifies, and fewer still know that this special day of recognition has been in place for over 75 years.  If you pay attention you might see this banner hanging in the front window of a house when you drive by, or as a sticker on the back of a vehicle.  Military members know what this banner signifies but it seems as if most civilians don't know and often, don't care, unless the death was in the family of someone they know. 

This little banner represents pain, suffering and sacrifice, and not just by the individual that the star represents.  We all know that losing someone we love is difficult and affects people in some way, for the rest of their lives.  It is also generally felt that losing a son or daughter is one of the greatest blows one can suffer in life.  We should remember the sacrifices of military members and their families, including those who have served and those who continue to serve, as well as those who have lost their lives on this day.  No, Labor Day is not usually used as a military day of remembrance for many people.  But perhaps we can remember the families of those who have served and sacrificed on this day, because they too have given much and sacrificed.  Perhaps on this day, as well as on as many other days you think of it, we can remember families impacted by war.

But please don't limit your prayer to those who have lost family members, whether sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, wives or husbands, or even grandparents or grandchildren.  During an Associated Press recent three-month review of Veterans Administration records, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans sought care for the following:

• More than 1,600 have lost limbs, some more than one limb
• At least 156 are blind and thousands of others have impaired vision
• More than 177,000 have hearing loss and more than 350,000 report tinnitus
• Thousands are disfigured, as many as 200 of them so badly that they may need face transplants
• 25% of battlefield wounds requiring evacuation were to the face or jaw
• more than 400,000 have been treated by the VA for a mental health problem, most commonly PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

This last figure consists of only those who sought care through the VA.  Many military members do not seek care for mental health problems through the VA due to stigmas or fear that their military careers will be harmed if they do.  These individuals also need to be remembered in prayer.  And wouldn't it be nice if our prayers resulted in our own actions?  In other words, don't just pray, get up and move to make a difference in someone's life.

There are other banners you might see.  The Blue Star Service Banner represents that someone in the home is on active duty in the Armed Forces.  This includes members of the National Guard and Reserves.  This banner is only displayed during periods of war and may contain up to five stars.  It is a reminder that there is a cost to war.

The Silver Star Service Banner represents those who have been wounded or contracted a serious illness in a war zone.  However, it can also be flown by anyone as a symbol of remembrance of the sacrifice made for them by so many members of the military.  If it is flown as a flag, it must be flown below the U.S. flag and must be of a small size.  The Silver Star Service Banner can be flown during peacetime as well as during a time of war.  

As United Methodists, we believe that war is not the way of God, so please don't take this posting as a glorification of war.  It is not.  However, those who serve do so out of a personal belief that freedom of self and of country is of paramount importance to who we are as Americans, and it requires great sacrifice.  We honor the sacrifice if not the actions.  Also, please keep in mind that the military is an arm of our government, and is necessary because diplomats cannot always find peaceful means to resolve disputes between nations.  If we could do away with greed and the desire for power, perhaps there would be no more gold star mothers.  Perhaps we if could really understand the message of Jesus Christ and live it out, we would beat our weapons into plowshares and study war no more.  As you pray for those who have lost loved ones, that might be something to lift up as well.