Today is Gold Star Mothers and Families day.

It’s an important day for Americans and many people don’t know about it, so I thought I’d do a shallow dive

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Gold Star mothers are mothers who have lost their children in war. #GoldStar family members are those who have lost a family member in war.

This banner, sometimes hung on a window in a home or as a sticker on a vehicle, denotes this loss. /2

This banner or vehicle sticker, with a BLUE star, denotes a family member, usually a spouse or child, currently serving in a war abroad /3

In a time of endless wars, however, you’ll often see this.

This means two children or two parents from one household, or a child AND a parent are deployed to war simultaneously.

Reread that and let it sit for a second...
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Quick aside, but the majority of folks serving in the US military are related to someone who served.

Our community is insular, the gap is growing & with it misunderstandings of who we are, why we serve, and what we care about

(but I’ll leave that to the #civmil experts) /5

Unfortunately, because of the nature of military service being a “family business,” some families shoulder a disproportionate burden /6

And then, of course, Gold Star families give their hearts: their children and their parents, brothers and sisters. The ultimate sacrifice.

The majority of these deaths are young and enlisted men and women, between 20-24. Taken decades too soon. /7

Here are the servicemember deaths from Operation “Iraqi Freedom” for reference.

A war we never should have started. /8

So, today is for reflecting on this sacrifice & thinking about how to keep everyone’s children safe

& for imagining a world without the disproportionate burden of war on working class families

in which those in power center human security and dignity in their decisions. /9

I cannot neglect to mention that the civilian casualties in these wars have far far outnumbered U.S. service member casualties (10, 30, 50x) .

We cannot let an American flag be draped over our eyes and remain blinded to this truth. We can and must hold both things at once. /10

Like vets, Gold Star families are not a monolith. Their views on their loss(es), war, politics, and their identity run the gamut.

Maybe they have a flag, maybe not. Maybe they’re mad, or at peace.

All I’ll say is that most I know love to share stories of those they lost. /11

War is a racket.

Hold and be grateful for those you love, and reflect on the sacrifice of Gold Star Families today.

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Last note: my politics define this thread. Everything is political to me and many others for some of the reasons I’ve outlined.

But when it comes to supporting vets & military families, my door is open to all, always, and everything else will be left right there.