House Joint Resolution 25-1011

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-1011

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Martinez and Armagost, Camacho, Carter, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brown, Caldwell, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Feret, Froelich, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lukens, Mabrey, McCluskie, McCormick, Paschal, Pugliese, Richardson, Ricks, Rydin, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Weinberg, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Bird, Brooks, DeGraaf, English, Garcia, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Luck, Mauro, Phillips, Rutinel, Sirota, Suckla, Willford;

also SENATOR(S) Kirkmeyer and Ball, Amabile, Baisley, Bridges, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jaquez Lewis, Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman.

CONCERNING HONORING GOLD STAR FAMILIES.

WHEREAS, Since the Revolutionary War, more than one million American soldiers have died in battle and military conflicts; their families, who have endured these losses and the accompanying grief, are known as Gold Star Families; and

WHEREAS, Gold Star Families were named for the practice of families hanging service banners in the windows of their homes, with a star for each family member serving in the Armed Forces: Deep blue stars were displayed for each living member serving, and they were replaced with gold stars if the loved one was killed in action serving our country and protecting our freedom; and

WHEREAS, While George Vaughn Seibold was fighting abroad during World War I, his mother, Grace Darling Seibold, channeled her worry into visiting hospitalized veterans. When the letters from her son stopped arriving and she learned of his death, she took action in her grief and, with a group of mothers, established American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., in 1928; and

WHEREAS, Since 1936, Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day has been honored, through presidential proclamation, on the last Sunday of each September; and

WHEREAS, The acts of heroism and the stories of courage of fallen soldiers are forever remembered in the minds and hearts of their families; and

WHEREAS, While national monuments and memorials serve as strong visible reminders for the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, Gold Star Families are a living legacy of each fallen soldier and can help us all remember and honor these heroes by name; and

WHEREAS, Long after the battles have ended, as our stars and stripes of liberty fly, the families who have at home a folded flag and at the table an empty seat deserve our respect and our support; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, honor the pride and the pain of the parents, partners, children, and siblings of our fallen heroes and recognize the families of these proud patriots with an expression of profound gratitude and respect.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the commanders of the American Legion Posts in Colorado; the commanders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts in Colorado; the commanders of Colorado's active military bases; the Pikes Peak Chapter

of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.; the Denver Chapter of Gold Star

Wives of America, Inc.; and the Colorado chapters of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.