Nevada’s Gold Star Families Foundation Steps Up to Challenge

The Gold Star Luminary Initiative issued a challenge through the Governor’s Office for Nevada to host a formal Luminary event on Gold Star Family Day. It was a challenge that did not go unmet. Nevada’s Gold Star Families Foundation stepped forward and accepted it.

As a result, the Foundation partnered with the Nevada Department of Veterans Services to host the first-ever, Gold Star Luminary event in front of the new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, located on the grounds of the new Northern Nevada State Veterans Home in Sparks.

Gold Star Family Day is a national day of recognition held on the third Sunday of September each year. This year, the recognition fell on September 29^th. It recognizes the tremendous burden Gold Star Families bear due to the loss of a loved during service in the U.S. military. Lighting a luminary lets these families know they are recognized, honored and not alone.

This ceremony began at 6:00 p.m., underneath the setting sun. Gold Star Family members and others lit and then placed battery-operated tea candle inside individual luminary bags that had been placed in front of the memorial. The glowing luminary bags provided a soft light against the black marble of the memorial.

Gold Star Mother’s Day was designated by a joint Congressional resolution in 1936. In recent years, it has evolved to be known as Gold Star Family Day. Each year since, the day has been observed by presidential proclamation.

In addition to hosting this event, the Foundation is also behind the initiative earlier this year that brought the Nevada’s first Gold Star Memorial Monument to the grounds of the new veterans’ home in Sparks. The Foundation is also working to bring another Gold Star Memorial to southern Nevada.