"Dying for Freedom isn't the worst thing that can happen. Being forgotten is," said Georgie…read moreCarter-Krell, Mother of Posthumous Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. Bruce W. Carter, USMC- Florida. The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military Service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of Valor. We just returned after ten days at Dayton, Ohio where we took all of our grandchildren to visit relatives, friends and military history. Our children paid for it all as an early xmas present to us and their children. One of the highlights was our three-day, yes, three days, visit to the brand new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at our always beloved National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This Review is only for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force there.
Donated by the Hershel "Woody" Williams Congressional Medal of Honor Education Foundation, Inc., the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument features the traditional shape of a saluting soldier's outline in a representative missing space between two of the granite pieces. Being a Gold Star family member is an Honor no one wants. That's because a Gold Star Family is a family member(s) of a fallen Service member who died while Serving in a time of conflict. The last Sunday of each September is Gold Star Family's Day.
A Gold Star Family can display a Gold Star Service Flag for Service members who were killed or died, while Serving in the Armed Forces, from causes other than dishonorable. The number of gold stars on the flag corresponds with the number of individuals who were killed or died. A gold star is placed over the blue star on a Blue Star Service Flag so that the blue forms a border and creates the Gold Star Service Flag. The U.S. Department of Defense issues these flags as well as Gold Star lapel pins to immediate family members of a fallen Service member of the military. These pins are worn by spouses, parents, and children of Service members killed in the line of Duty and contain a gold star on a purple circular background.
This Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was reverently created as part of the mission of the Hershel "Woody" Williams Congressional Medal of Honor Education Foundation, Inc., which was established to honor Gold Star Families by building monuments designed by Williams throughout America, scholarships to Gold Star Children, sponsoring outreach programs and events, and educating communities about Gold Star Families and the sacrifice they have endured. Founder Woody Williams enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
I forever recognize, honor, respect, and grieve at the sacrifice that all Gold Star Family members make when a husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt, girlfriend, boyfriend, classmate, friend, or other loved one dies in military Service to America. A Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is scheduled to be a part of the brand new long overdue desperately needed Northern Nevada State Veterans Home in Sparks, Nevada. The monument is to be located at the entryway so it is the first thing everyone sees upon arrival.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is the world's oldest and largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum boasts some 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year some one million visitors from around the world visit the museum that brings history to life and connects the Wright brothers' legacy with today's stealth and precision technology. Numerous U.S. Air Force aircraft are also on loan here from throughout the world through the USAF Heritage Program.
All that is why it took us three days to see everything at the monument and the museum.