COMMISSIONER KANE REFLECTS ON THE MEANING OF GOLD STAR MOTHER’S AND FAMILY’S DAY

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

By the end of September, many of us have left the ease of summer behind and have settled into our fall routines.  In many ways, September feels more like a “new year” than January does with a new school year beginning, sports seasons changing, and dropping temperatures prepping us for the winter ahead.

A return to a normal routine can be comforting but can also bring reminders of how normal may have changed.

With that in mind, observing Gold Star Mother’s and Family's Day today, the last Sunday in September, is a well-suited time for the loved ones of fallen heroes to be recognized for their sacrifice and loss. 

During World War I, families hung banners with blue stars representing each family member who was away from home serving the war effort. When a family member died as a result of their service, their blue star was replaced with a gold star, honoring the extraordinary and lasting sacrifice the family was now forced to endure.

In 1918, Grace Darling Seibold changed a blue star to gold and from that point on, she made the commitment to support others who understood her grief and sought ways to provide assistance to veterans who suffered as a result of their service. In 1928, she and 24 others just like her created the American Gold Star Mother’s Inc., an organization that continues today giving families the opportunity to share their unique grief while working to lessen the pain experienced by others.

In 2010, I unfortunately joined the Gold Star Mother sisterhood, when my son, Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Kane was killed in Afghanistan.  So today, on this year’s Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, I join other Gold Star families in commemorating our loved one’s service and sacrifice.

I treasure the normal of years past which included Jeremy, but his loss has given me a valuable new mission to assist and support others who serve or have served as he was so proud to do.  As a Camden County Commissioner, I am extremely fortunate to be in a position to assist and support veterans and service people in Camden County on a grand scale.  

Just this month alone, my fellow Camden County Commissioners and I recognized the sacrifices of many families with the 9/11Veteran and First Responder Medal Ceremony honoring those who served our nation in the 9/11 recovery efforts and the War on Terror. We also provided support and participated in the 9/11 Heroes Run, an event that raises funds for the Travis Manion Foundation, an organization committed to serving veterans and families of the fallen. 

On Thursday, the Commissioners and I recognized September as Suicide Awareness Month and declared September 22 specifically as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day in Camden County.  Unfortunately, suicide is a critical concern amongst the veteran community and hopefully raising awareness will be key to preventing more losses.

It is my honor to continue the work of Mrs. Seibold and the far too many other Gold Star mothers who came after her and the many who suffer and serve by my side today. I thank the voters in Camden County who have given me this opportunity as Commissioner to provide the assistance, recognition and support our Camden County veterans and their families need and deserve.  It makes days like today that much more significant and I pledge to continue the remarkable work our County has done in service to those who served us.

Thank you,

Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane

LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMISSIONER KANE’S EXPERIENCE AND WORK AS A GOLD STAR MOM