The members of Gold Star Wives of America, Inc, (GSW) and many Americans are heartbroken over the recent events relating to the final withdrawal in Afghanistan. As military surviving spouses, we know how dangerous and volatile the current state is. We extend our sympathy to the families of our servicemen/women and our Afghan families who are affected by the senseless strike imposed by the militant group Isis-Khorasan.

Since the strike occurred on the tail end of the 20-year conflict, and on the upcoming 20-year anniversary of 9-11, makes this act more inconceivable. This tragedy has surfaced many emotions.

Our members of GSW, value the extreme sacrifice and dedication it took for those to serve after the tragic 9/11 events. Gold Star Wives of America value their service to their country and one another; they will never be forgotten.

To those left behind, including our troops, American citizens, and the many Afghan families, Godspeed and get out safely.

Due to Gold Star Wives of America, Incorporated's Inland Empire Chapter President Dee Dee Rodler's years of advocacy and the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, the Riverside National Cemetery in California will receive a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. A groundbreaking ceremony took place a few days ago. Please click here to learn more and read Ms. Rodler's interview with The Press-Enterprise.

This Veterans' Day, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation will host a reading of all 7,059 names of service members who sacrificed their lives in the post-9/11 wars. The event will take place on the National Mall. Click here to read an article about the upcoming event. Featured in the write-up are Gold Star Spouses' statements on what this honor means to them.

To read an article, please copy a link and paste it in your browser.

https://www.woodcountynow.com/local-news/all-gave-some-some-gave-alland-many-waited-for-their-return

https://www.advocate-news.com/2021/05/27/gold-star-wives-honor-ultimate-sacrifice/

https://wgnradio.com/anna-davlantes/president-gold-star-wives-of-america-nancy-menagh/

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/397732/five-gold-star-families-get-mortgages-paid-off-through-foundation

https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/2021/05/28/fort-bragg-area-gold-star-youth-honor-memory-parents-run-memorial-day/5152405001/

https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Hayes-bill-would-boost-monthly-benefits-by-300-16211184.php

https://www.wdsu.com/article/gold-star-family-reflects-on-memorial-day/36584256

Gold Star Wife and Arlington Chapter Vice President, Ursula Palmer, is the Executive Director of military and veteran programs at the Cybercrime Support Network. She was recently featured on The Spouse Angle. Please click here to read the write-up by Military Times.

It’s been an unusual year for Community Service. Many members were not allowed to do their usual volunteer work due to Covid-19. But I’m sure many people increased financial contributions in a year that saw such need for food and various services during the pandemic.

Reporting Community Service for GSW, the number of reports received was down quite a bit, but the total value was not that far off from last year. For the year 2020, 135 members reported a total value of over $1,736,374. This compared to the previous year (2019), when 201 reports totaled $1,898,544, a difference of about 162 thousand dollars.

Again this year, urged on by President Flora Kernea, Magnolia Chapter topped the charts, with 26 members reporting monetary and volunteering totals of $488,821! We had MALs in three regions – South Central, Southeast andSouthwest – plus three chapters – Miami Valley, Inland Empire and Phoenix, each far surpassing $100,000!

Thank you, everyone who sent in Community Service reports.  One result of the Covid-19 pandemic seems that more people are expanding their generosity to help those impacted by donating to food shelves and other humanitarian efforts, and some are finding new ways to volunteer. We urge you to keep track of your contributions of cash, goods, volunteer hours and mileage (and blood donations for those who are still young enough), and plan to report them to GSW Community Service next year.

Carol DeVore
Director, Community Service
cldevore@protonmailcom 
320-217-5072, 320-217-1321 ©

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 7th), Gold Star Wife Patty Stubenhofer sat down with Heather Graf of ABC 7. She shared her family's experience and advice on how the public can offer support. 

A dedication service for the Hershel "Woody" Williams Gold Star Families Monument in Clinton Township, Michigan will be held on June 12, 2021. Please click here to read the coverage by The Macomb Daily. 

Former Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. member, the late Amanda Crow and her late husband, Jeremy Crow, served in the United States Navy. Amanda was an advocate for survivor benefits. Their family has set up a community memorial wall in their honor. Click to read more about Amanda and Jeremy Crow's service here. (Rapid City Journal) 

GSW and Wreaths Across America form Partnership (PRNewswire)

April 5th is Officially Recognized as Gold Star Wives Day (Ripon Advance)

The Gold Star Wives' Arlington Chapter recently joined Partnership that Fights Cybercrime and Supports Military and Veteran Organizations (Business Wire)