WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., along with U.S. Representatives Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., celebrated the designation of August 1, 2021 as Gold Star Children’s Day. On Thursday, the Senate passed a resolution introduced by Wicker and Manchin to officially set aside this day to recognize the sacrifices of the children of fallen servicemembers. Phillips introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives with Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Kelly. To date, there has been no nationally-recognized day to honor Gold Star Children.  

“Designating August 1 as Gold Star Children’s Day will help recognize the unique sacrifices borne by the children of our nation’s fallen heroes,” Wicker said. “I encourage all Americans to come together in support of these sons and daughters who carry on the legacy of their parents who paid the ultimate price for our country.”

“No child should ever have to grow up without a parent, and I can only imagine the pain that comes from losing a parent in the line of duty. While we will never be able to repay the sacrifices made by our brave patriots and their families, it is our responsibility to honor their children for their sacrifices. I am proud to lead the Senate in distinguishing August 1, 2021 as Gold Star Children’s Day to recognize the sacrifices made for our country by Gold Star Children,” Manchin said.

“The children of our fallen men and women in uniform have experienced the unimaginable loss of a loved one. Recognizing Gold Star Children’s Day will serve as a reminder to all Americans that freedom is not free,” Kelly said.

“As a Gold Star son, I understand firsthand the sacrifices made by some so that ALL may enjoy the freedoms we hold dear as Americans – and so that we may continue to be blessed to live in the oldest and most successful continuous democracy in the world,” Phillips said. “Up until now, the unimaginable sacrifices of Gold Star Children have not been recognized with a special day, and that ends here.”

Read the full text of the resolution here or below:

Whereas the recognition of Gold Star Families in the United States dates back to World War I, when the families of fallen service members displayed a service flag in the window of their homes with a gold star;

Whereas, in 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law legislation declaring Gold Star Mother’s Day, a national observance honoring the mothers of fallen service members annually on the last Sunday of September;

Whereas, since 2010, the Senate has honored Gold Star Spouses by resolution annually on April 5, recognizing the unique sacrifices made by spouses of fallen service members;

Whereas thousands of sons and daughters of military families have lost mothers or fathers who served in the Armed Forces and also deserve national recognition for the bur- den and legacy they carry; and

Whereas no date has existed to specifically recognize the children of fallen service members of the United States as part of a national debt of gratitude that the people of the United States owe to the service members who sacrificed all in protecting the freedom of the United States and the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

1                          Resolved, That the Senate—

2                                            (1) designates August 1, 2021, as ‘‘Gold Star

3                          Children’s Day’’;

4                                            (2) honors the sacrifices and hardships of the

5                          children of fallen service members; and

6                                            (3) encourages the people of the United States

7                          to observe Gold Star Children’s Day in support of

8                          children of the fallen men and women of the Armed

9                          Forces of the United States.