Young and Braun Introduce Gold Star Families Remembrance Week Resolution
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) helped introduce a bipartisan resolution establishing the week of Sept. 22-29, 2019, as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week to honor the families of fallen members of the Armed Forces.
“As a Marine, I know there is no more sacred duty than honoring our fallen soldiers and their families,” said Senator Young. “Recognizing the last week in September as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week is one small action we can take to pay tribute to our greatest heroes. This resolution honors Hoosiers like Sandy Terwiske, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son Lance Corporal Alec Terwiske during combat operations in Afghanistan.”
“Every fallen hero leaves behind a family that bears the pain of their great sacrifice for our country,” said Senator Braun. “Gold Star Families Remembrance Week will serve as a reminder that we must always honor our heroes’ families who have, as President Lincoln said, ‘laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.’”
Gold Star Families Remembrance Week is a prelude to Gold Star Mother’s Day, observed by presidential proclamation since 1936 on the last Sunday of September. There is no official date dedicated to families affected by the loss of a loved one who died in the service of the United States.
In setting aside Sept. 22-29 as a week of remembrance for Gold Star families, S.Res.313 encourages the people of the United States to perform acts of service and good will to honor the fallen, veterans, and their families. It states that, “the sacrifices of the families of the fallen members of the Armed Forces and the families of veterans of the Armed Forces should never be forgotten.”
The resolution was introduced by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and is also cosponsored by Senators Doug Jones (Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Kysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
A copy of the Gold Star Families Remembrance Week resolution is available here.