April 5 was Gold Star Spouse Day, and at this year’s events, I had the pleasure of spending time with some of my fellow Gold Star Spouses. Seeing these strong, spirited people recently made me think about what a Gold Star Spouse is. Not the technical term, in that it’s a spouse who lost their service member while he or she was serving on active duty, but what kind of person we are.
Who is a Gold Star Spouse?
They are the twenty-something newlyweds that were just getting used to married life.
They are the parent with a 2 year old that will have to get to know their lost parent through stories and pictures.
They choke back tears at night when their babies ask when Daddy is coming home.
They longed to start a family once this deployment was over.
They know that not everyone comes home from a deployment, and that not all service members are lost on the battlefield.
They experienced moments in their lives that others only do in their nightmares.
Through all the pain and hardships they have endured and remain strong and resilient.
They wake up every day and holds their heads up high.
They keeps their service member’s love in their heart and speak of them daily to keep their memory alive.
They know the price of freedom.
And most importantly, they know that America is the home of the free because the service member they loved was brave.
Featured photo by military.com
I have a dear friend who just became a gold star wife. You are correct about all you have learned. I just hope that we can all be there enough for her, today and in the future!
I had lost my Husband to PTSD related suiciced after he had come home from deployment, and our son was only 8 months old at the time. I still wonder everyday how im going to tell him what happened. We have been fortunete enough that i met another man and he has that father figure but i still dread when my little boy is older and realizes that isnt his father 🙁
*hugs* Ariel