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The Air Force family tree has many branches and one branch,
representing the service’s Gold Star families, has leaves that glow
consistently with the rest.
Gold Star families are survivors
of military service members who lost their lives during armed
hostilities, including deployments in support of military operations
against an enemy and/or during an international terrorist attack.
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Gold Star families are survivors of military service members who
lost their lives during armed hostilities, acts of terrorism and
certain deployments. The Air Force’s Gold Star program provides
enhanced support and outreach for the lifetime of each survivor.
(U.S. Air Force graphic by Richard Salomon, AFPC Airman)
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The Air Force’s Gold Star program provides enhanced
support and outreach for the lifetime of each survivor, or
until the survivor no longer needs or desires the services.
The program is designed to let families know the Air Force
cares for them and will continue to embrace them as part of
the Air Force family.
“Our primary purpose is to
continue recognizing and honoring the sacrifice these
families and their loved ones made in the service of our
nation, said Vera Carson, Air Force Families Forever program
manager at the Air Force’s Personnel Center. “Gold Star
families fall under the Air Force Families Forever program,
which ensures all families of our fallen Airmen are never
forgotten.”
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David
Goldfein directed the provision of additional lifelong
support to Gold Star families in April 2017. Gold Star
family members (parents, adult children and siblings) are
now being offered the opportunity to receive a Gold Star
identification card, which authorizes access to Air Force
bases in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.
For additional information, contact your Air Force Families
Forever representative at the local Airman and Family
Readiness Center.
By allowing these families
unescorted access to Air Force installations, they can visit
their loved one’s gravesite, attend memorials and basewide
events, and stop by the Airman and Family Readiness Center
for immediate and long-term compassionate support.
“General Goldfein and his wife, Dawn, want to ensure our
Gold Star families remain a part of the Air Force family;
this special ID card is helping us make that happen,” said
Carla Diamond, Air Force Gold Star and Surviving Family
Member representative. “We are reaching out to surviving
family members, establishing contact and ensuring that their
needs are met.”
One resource for survivors is the
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS. This
program provides emotional support and healing to anyone
grieving the death of a military loved one. The TAPS staff
provides military survivor seminars, Good Grief Camps for
young survivors, peer mentors and resources relating to
grief and trauma.
Taking care of each Airman’s family
is vital to ensuring an Airman is prepared and mission
ready.
“Supporting Family members is critical in
making sure our Airmen are resilient and ready to meet their
mission objectives and serve our nation daily,” said Mr.
Randy Tillery, the director of Airmen and Family Care. “The
Gold Star program reminds our surviving family members they
are still an important part of the greater Air Force
family.”
Gold Star families are not new. The term
traces back to World War I when Americans would fly a flag
with a blue star for every immediate family member serving
in the armed forces. The star became gold if the family lost
a loved one in the war. Along with the U.S. flag, these
family members now receive a lapel pin with a gold star
resting on a purple background.
Since 1936, the last
Sunday of September is observed as Gold Star Mothers' and
Families' Day. Air Force officials are now planning events
to commemorate the special day.
By U.S. Air Force Tammy Cournoyer, AFPC Airman and Family Division
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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