Please note GSW Store (supplies) is temporarily closed. Sorry for the inconvenience. You may order at this time any supplies from our affiliate store found here: 

https://www.gswives.com/create/Gold-Star-Products?c=4496883&pn=244

The Big Dipper is a national auxiliary of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. (BSMA) that came into being in Milwaukee, WI on November 7, 1951 at its National Convention. The objectives of the organization are threefold: 1) honoring outstanding members of the BSMA 2) sponsoring a "Fun Night" at convention and 3) providing educational assistance to a Veteran, Active Duty Personnel or BSMA member; or the spouse of a Veteran or active duty personnel. The Josephine Calenda educational assistance fund is dedicated to the memory of Josephine Calenda of BSMA PA22 at National BSMA Convention in Lansing, MI in 1989. Josephine, after many years of active service in BSMA, died that year while holding the office of National Big Dipper President. The objective of Big Dipper Auxiliary has been updated over the years to include Veteran(s) Spouse.

Click here for more details.

Please see the presentation from the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, Mr. Charles "Ray" Alexander, who welcomed our sharing this with GSW members.

2023NMDOWeekendUpdate.pdf

May is Military Appreciation Month and one of our members suggested the following article to find discounts that are being offered by a number of companies during this month that you may be eligible to receive.

Click here to view discounts.

Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced the Love Lives On Act. This legislation would allow spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain their survivor benefits if they remarry. Update on this legislation can be found at the link below:

https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2023/4/sens-moran-warnock-introduce-legislation-to-protect-military-spouses-survivor-benefits

More coverage of Gold Star Wives / Gold Star Spouses Day:

https://pjmedia.com/culture/catherinesalgado/2023/04/05/gold-star-spouses-day-celebrates-the-families-u-s-heroes-left-behind-n1684950

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzSU8oxkNiQ

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/ohio-state-university-rotc-cadets-stand-guard-rain-honor-national-gold-star-spouses-day

https://www.army.mil/article/265451/mscoe_cg_and_csm_send_honoring_service_and_sacrifice_on_gold_star_spouses_day

https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/south-county/motorcycle-club-hosts-wreath-laying-to-honor-gold-star-spouses/

https://sofrep.com/news/gold-star-spouses-day-remembering-our-fallen-loved-ones/

https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/gold-star-spouse-recognition-day-at-the-state-house/

https://whdh.com/news/healey-addresses-gold-star-spouses/

https://turnto10.com/news/local/gold-star-spouses-day-wives-husbands-fallen-soldiers-veterans-memorial-cemetery-exeter-rhode-island-april-2-2023

https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3349194/gold-star-spouses-day/

https://www.pressandguide.com/2023/04/05/dearborn-heights-mayor-usmc-veteran-honors-families-on-national-gold-star-spouses-day/

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tunnel-towers-foundation-delivers-mortgage-140000248.html

https://carbondalereporter.com/stories/641500194-windhorst-today-we-recognize-the-loved-ones-of-our-nation-s-fallen-heroes-and-honor-their-shared-service-and-sacrifice-for-our-country-god-bless-gold-star-spouses

https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/641500956-windhorst-god-bless-gold-star-spouses

https://www.salemnews.com/news/healey-addresses-gold-star-spouses/article_6a97dd1e-d4a2-11ed-b345-0fab0c59cdec.html

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette covered Gold Star Spouses Day with an article that also addressed pending legislation and focused on GSW South Central Region President Sharri Briley, who has an interesting tie-in to April 5th (Gold Star Spouses Day). 

Read the full article here.

A Nation Honors our Vietnam Veterans and their Families
The National Mall, Washington, D.C.
May 11-13, 2023

On May 11-13, 2023, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration will host “Welcome Home! A Nation Honors our Vietnam Veterans and their Families,” on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Join us for this national-scale event designed to offer our Vietnam veterans and their families a humble “Thank You” and “Welcome Home” on behalf of the Nation. For more information visit https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/ or view the media kit and press release below.

Welcome Home Media Kit_Mar_2023_v3.pdf

Welcome Home Press Release Final.pdf

Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is thrilled to announce the introduction of S. 414, Caring for Survivors Act of 2023, introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.)  This bipartisan legislation is a major step forward in providing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) at a level equal to other federal survivor benefits.

DIC is an earned benefit that surviving spouses receive after the death of an active-duty service member, or a veteran who dies from an illness or injury connected to their service.  In addition, surviving spouses of veterans who are rated 100% disabled by VA for ten years or more are eligible for DIC. This bill would reduce the timeframe from the current 10 years down to 5 years, thereby expanding eligibility to a larger group of survivors.

Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. thanks Senators Tester and Boozman for introducing this bill as it is a testament to the commitment of our legislators to ensure that survivors receive equal benefits for the sacrifice they have made for our country. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this bill would have on the lives of survivors across America.

Read press release.

Read bill.

Coverage of the monument was published at Press Enterprise,

https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/01/28/new-gold-star-family-monument-dedicated-at-riverside-national-cemetery/

"Families of fallen U.S. service members are honored with the cemetery's latest memorial". 

The project was led by Dee Dee Rodler, President of the Inland Empire Chapter of Gold Star Wives.