American Gold Star Mothers lay wreath at Tomb of the Unknowns, Gold Star Mothers Sunday, 09/26/05 Soldiers looking at Vietnam Wall Memorial Francis Turley at a funeral for a forgotten veteran. One of the many markers at Arlington Cemetery remembered by a mother Perpetuating the noble principles for which they fought and died.


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From Our Bylaws

Natural Mothers or adoptive mothers, who were citizens or legal residents of the United States or of the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States, at the time of their sons’ or daughters’ induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose sons’ or daughters’ became missing in action, died while on active duty, or died as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers Inc.

Stepmothers, who are citizens or legal residents of the United States or of the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States, who assumed the responsibility of a son or daughter under the age of fifteen years, and reared this son and daughter, and who served and was missing in action or died while on active duty, or as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

Husbands, children and grandparents of members of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc may join as Associate Members using the same application. Associate members pay no dues, hold no offices and may not vote.

An honorary membership to the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. may be granted to mothers who were not citizens at the time of their sons’ or daughters’ induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose sons’ or daughters’ died while on active duty, became missing in action, or died as a result of such service. They pay no dues, hold no office and have no vote.

If you meet the membership requirements, we would be happy to have you join us. Just print out the membership application, fill it out and send it in. You will need Adobe Reader to print the application.

National membership dues are $20. Local chapter and Dept dues are additional and vary across the country. Most are about $3 to $5. See our list of all departments and chapters to find one near you.

Please send a copy of Form DD1300, Report of Casualty, Form DD2064, Certificate of Death Overseas, Form DD93, Record of Emergency Data, an obituary or some other evidence of your maternal relationship to the deceased service member.

Clarifications

The term Gold Star Mother refers to any mother who has lost a child in the service of our country.

An American Gold Star Mother is a Gold Star Mother who has joined the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc organization (AGSM).

AGSM is a private organization and can set its own membership rules. Our qualifications for membership have changed over the years. There is currently no requirement that your service member was killed in action or in a particular theater of operation to be a member.

Our Constitution and By Laws state:

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is an organization of Mothers whose sons and daughters served and died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, or died as a result of such service, or were missing in action.

The DoD makes distinctions in determining which of the Gold Star Pins are awarded based on the manner and place of death but we do not. All served and all undertook the associated risks.