During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that service flags should be flown from homes with a blue star representing someone in the military and a gold star for someone who lost his or her life in the war.

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation designating the last Sunday in September as gold star mothers’ day. Chapters sprung up all over the United States, including Maine, where mothers who had lost loved ones would get together and do wonderful work for servicemen in the hospitals. They would plan dinners and places to stay for servicemen and women visiting in their respective communities, thus it would help them knowing that they were helping the war effort on the home front. Also it helped them to cope with grieving thoughts of their loved ones.

Over time, the membership in these chapters has dwindled and many are inactive.

Since World War II, the United States has been involved in conflicts all over the globe. Loved ones have been lost, and now more than ever respect and recognition has to be given to them.

In Kennedy Park, there is a monument in the shape of a star honoring gold star parents.

We, who are so fortunate to be living in the greatest country in the world, should take time out from our busy daily schedules and remember those who gave their lives so that we could live and enjoy the privileges that we have today.

Jerry DerBoghosian,

Adjutant Post 22

American Legion, Lisbon