Today—September 27th—join the Flags of Valor team in displaying the American flag to commemorate Gold Star Mother’s Day. These moms and all Gold Star family members find the courage to keep going and keep alive their sons’ and daughters’ memory…the meaning of their sacrifice.
One of these amazing Gold Star Mothers is Lisa Anderson of Ventura, CA. Lisa’s son, Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Hale Anderson was a machine gunner in a platoon commanded by Major Scott Cuomo. It was Nick’s first deployment. He experienced multiple patrols with enemy contact, but during a fierce 2004 battle in Iraq’s Anbar province, Nick was killed. He was 19 years old.
“As you can imagine,” Lisa says, “it was tough for the entire family.” Through her grief, however, Lisa has kept herself and her family going. The Marine Corps Marathon has been a source of strength for Lisa, and she has run it 11 times to honor Nick and help make sure America remembers the heroes we’ve lost. Each of those 11 years, Major Cuomo has run the 26.2 miles with her, including the Wear Blue Mile with photos of the fallen displayed along the route. Nick was part of Cuomo’s military family. Even though Nick is gone, Cuomo stays closely involved with Nick’s family in California: “We do our best to stick together going forward,” Cuomo says.
Today, we hope you’ll join us in ‘sticking together’ with Gold Star Mothers across America. Proudly display your flag to let them know their sons and daughters—and their own ultimate sacrifices—will never be forgotten.
24 September- First officially celebrated in 1936, the third Sunday in September is set aside to honor mothers (and families) whose sons or daughters died while serving in the Armed Forces during a time of war or conflict. The term ‘Gold Star Mother’ originated with the tradition of placing a service flag near the front window when family members were serving in the military. Blue stars symbolized those in active military service. Gold stars symbolized those killed in service.
