Your View: Others to honor

I read with interest your article of Sunday, September 7, 2008 regarding the Cotton Carnival Parade honoring Gold Star Mothers and the US flag. I appreciate the concept that someone is trying to be patriotic as well as remember the moms of all of our service men and women who have died for this country, but to me you have forgotten the spouses of these same men and women by ignoring the group Gold Star Wives.

Gold Star Wives are the widows/widowers whose spouses died while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, or as a result of service-connected disabilities;

The widows/widowers of service personnel of all armed conflicts involving the United States of America;

The mothers and fathers of children whose parents gave their life in the service of their country;

The widows/widowers of service personnel of all ranks, races, and creeds.

We are a non-profit national service organization, incorporated in the State of New York on December 15, 1945, under the title of Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.

We were granted a Federal Charter by Congress on December 4, 1980, recognizing this organization as being unique and capable of providing a service not available from any other organization.

As members of Gold Star Wives, we appear before various House and Senate committees on issues concerning compensation, educational benefits, medical care, and other programs pertaining to the welfare of military survivors.

We believe surviving spouses and dependent children need an organization dedicated solely to their needs, concerns, and welfare.

We offer Support Services, Community and Volunteer Services, Legislative Information Services, and much more to all of our members.

We are in all 50 states, in government, industry, commercial enterprises, and in our homes; are volunteers in our military and veterans hospitals, welfare projects, churches, schools, and community activities; we are students in schools, colleges, and universities throughout the country.

Like I said, I think you left out a group.

Toni M. Dee
Gold Star Wife since 1968