Houston Chapter

Welcome to the Houston and Surrounding Area Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers. We serve the southern half of Texas. If you're a Gold Star mom and would like to meet others in your situation please contact us.

We are Mothers of the Fallen, honoring their memory, promoting patriotism, and supporting all US Veterans. Membership in the AGSM is not required to attend our functions. Functions are open to all Gold Star Families and many are open to the public.

Houston Run for the Fallen

This run will take place rain or shine. We will have a table at the event promoting patriotism with various patriotic items as well as "tattooing" for the children with patriotic tattoos!! Please stop by and visit us.

Please respond to the100thtexan@cebridge.net if you are able to attend. The organization would like to recognize and honor each Gold Star Family present and have asked that I provide a list. Please let me know as soon as possible if you will be able to attend as well as the name of your Fallen Hero.

Membership Cards

Membership cards will be in the envelope with the next newsletter.  We're trying to cut costs on mailings by doing one mailing for the newsletter and the membership cards. The next Department newsletter will be out in late July to early August.

2009 Fund Raiser

We are raffling off a 7 night cruise that is scheduled to depart from Galveston Texas on Valentines Day 2010. The drawing will be November 14, 2009. We have a challenge going on with this raffle where the Gold Star Mother/Family that sells the most raffle tickets, will receive the very same cruise!!!
Not only are we raising much needed funds for our Chapter, we will also be providing a Gold Star Family with a much needed 'vacation'.  If you know anyone that would like to get in on the fun and sell some tickets, have them contact me.

Past Events

• Just under 14,000 wreaths were laid at the Houston VA National Cemetery on December 13, 2008.  This was done through the efforts of many volunteers working to make a child's dream come true!!  Although this Ceremony was originally coordinated in past years with the Civil Air Patrol, this year the entire program was coordinated with Wreaths Across America - Houston and thousands of volunteers!! See a slide show of the 2008 event.

Wreaths Across America is a very large project that was started by a 7 year old boy who asked "daddy, why can't there be a wreath on every grave?". The same Wreath Company that provides wreaths to Arlington, provides seven large wreaths to each National Cemetery in the US.  Each wreath represents a Branch of Service, as well as the POW's and MIA's. WAA-H is a 501c3 Organization, so any donation is tax deductible.

• Salute to Our Troops. Some Gold Star Family members mingle with Wayne Newton.

  

  Attendees at the recent Salute to Our Troops event are from left to right; Barbara Craig, Mary Denton, Wayne Newton, Penny George, Peggy Slay, Jewel Aston, Center Front is Maria Salgado.

• The America Supports You - Texas function held in Amarillo Texas on May 15-16, 2009 hosted 87 Gold Star Families, most from the state of Texas. The America Supports You Texas Organization does an outstanding job every year to recognize and honor Gold Star Families here in Texas. If you have not been able to attend this function, or have not heard from them, please let us know and we will make sure to get your contact information to them for next year.
• The Memorial Day Service held on MAY 24, 2009 at Houston's First Baptist Church was unbelievable.  There were 29 Gold Star Families in attendance. Houston's First Baptist Church did an outstanding job putting together a very patriotic service for everyone in attendance. The patriotism and support shown for our military by the entire congregation was very heart warming.  After the service, HFBC, hosted a wonderful lunch for all of the Gold Star Families. Thank you HFBC.
• Memorial Day at the VA Houston National was a huge success. An estimated crowd of 6000-7000 attended and paid their respects to our Military.

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  Upcoming Events

• Gold Star Mothers Day at the VA Houston National Cemetery. More details shortly.
• October 24, 2009 (tentative) - Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). The Houston and Surrounding Area Chapter will he hosting a fundraiser for HFOT to benefit the home that is being built for Anthony Thompson in the Humble area. Anthony was severely injured on APR 20, 2007 when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive under an overpass where Thompson and his Marines had taken post.
• November 14, 2009 - Gold Star Families Gathering at Bo's Place, 10050 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX. Information will be mailed to all Families that we have contact information.  Please feel free to contact us if you have not been receiving information from us. ALL Gold Star Family Members are invited.  More information coming soon.  At this Family Gathering we will be pulling the winner of the cruise as well as announcing the Gold Star Family that sold the most tickets therefore receiving the same cruise.

Texas Fallen Soldier Plaque

The Texas Fallen Soldier Plaque Committee has offered to present to each Texas Gold Star Family, a Black Marble Plaque with a picture of your fallen soldier, the Battle Field Cross and information about the soldier. There is no cost to the family.

The committee needs help locating all of the Texas Gold Star Families. If you know of a Gold Star Family or are one yourself and would like a plaque, contact Charles Boatright, Texas Fallen Soldier Plaque Committee Chairman or AGSM-Houston.