For Gold Star families, the ultimate sacrifice comes heavily taxed. Excerpt:

For every dollar she received from the VA benefit, her casualty assistance officer told her, it would be deducted from the Survivor Benefit Plan payments, an offset referred to as “the widow’s tax.”

It affects an estimated 65,000 Americans whose service member spouses died as a result of their service in conflicts dating back to World War II.

Read the article published on Fox2Now St. Louis.

The South East Region President, Barbara Glaze, attended the the Wall that Heals ceremony with Patricia Barbee, who remembers her husband's sacrifice along with others at the Memorial event in Pooler, near Savannah.  The South East Region President says that it was a moving and touching event on October 31st. It has been ten years since the wall was in that area.  We appreciate and remember Patricia’s  husband and all her sacrifice to our organization and our country.  

You can view the article covering the event here.

A very nice video tribute of GSW Founder Marie Speer was posted by KIII TV from South Texas. You can see the video below or at www.goldstarwives.org.

Additionally, Caller Times (part of the USA Today Network) has an in-depth article about Marie Speer, reporting on the founding of the organization in 1945, Eleanor Roosevelt's membership and role in the charter, and more about Mrs. Speer's life. The article was also picked up by the MSN website. 

Message from our President and Board Chair:

GSW is saddened to have lost our Founder of Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. Marie Speer passed away peacefully on October 19, 2019, with her family by her side. Marie had turned aged 98 on May 9th of this year. Memorial Services to be held at Arlington National Cemetery are pending at this time. If you would like to send condolences, please contact your Region President for the address. The family requests that no flowers be sent to the address.

All of us will miss Marie and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at his time.

Members may post a note to be shared with Marie Speer's family on our forum.

Nancy Menagh
National President

Harriet Boyden
Board Chair

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, from the state of Idaho, submitted an article printed in the Idaho State Journal, titled "Honoring Gold Star Families".  It covers some of the accomplishments of the current Congress.  A link to the article is provided below.

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/opinion/columns/honoring-gold-star-families/article_4d806c67-7ddd-535d-8131-2be07ae835cd.html

A compilation of media coverage for the Arkansas Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Dedication that was held September 28, 2019 at the Arkansas State Capitol is now available.  Gold Star Wives participated in the event.

Click here to view the media compilation.

Participation in the following study was recommended by South East Region President Barbara Jones-Glaze. 

Stepping Forward in Grief study: a grief intervention project.
 
Updates will be provided at the study website: www.steppingforwardstudy.org.
 
If you would like to schedule a time for our staff to deliver a talk or presentation about the study or results from our ongoing work related to bereavement, both in military and civilian communities, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
 
We are pleased to work alongside you in supporting the military survivor and veteran community.
 
Dr. Stephen Cozza & Dr. Katherine Shear

Good news for Gold Star Wives:

"The U.S. Senate moved closer yesterday to finally ending the Military Widow’s Tax that taxes military widows and widowers’ survivor benefits.

The Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to urge House-Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference committee members to include the Military Widow’s Tax Elimination Act of 2019 in the NDAA, which authorizes funding to equip, supply and train U.S. troops and support military families.

In a vote of 94-0, the Senate approved a Motion to Instruct measure in support of the bill being included in the annual defense bill. The House has already approved the widow’s tax provision in its version of the bill." 

You can view the entire news article here.

GSW member and officer Peggy Griffin is quoted in an article entitled "Veteran groups seek clarity for Gold Star families" published on August 28, 2019 in the Gloucester Daily Times. The issue pertains to the recognition of Gold Star Families regarding state benefits.  Click here to view the article.

Gateway Rotary of Olympia, Washington is hosting a Brats, Brews & Bands on September 7 with local music, tasty beverages and sensational food to support local charities including Gold Star Wives! The Gateway Rotary was established in 2011 and focuses entirely on service at both a local and international level. Business owners and leaders in the area are frequently members due to their connections to the community. The goal is to bring positive change to Thurston County, Washington. Read more about the event here.

Apple Valley, Minnesota welcomes a national motorcycle ride honoring fallen military service members. July 20th was the area's first time to host the riders known as "Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Northwest" made possible by the Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776.

To view the full news article covering this event which includes a nice review of "gold star" history, click here.