Gold Star Advocacy
If you came to this page because you are a surviving Family member, please know we are here for you. We know that there are no words or actions that can ever entirely comfort you in your loss. There is no greater calling than to serve one’s nation with honor and dignity. For us, there is no greater honor than to support our Gold Star Families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
Our Gold Star Family Advocacy Program will connect you with other Gold Gold Star Mothers, Fathers, Siblings etc., to help walk you through the grieving process, provide compassionate care, and be a friend and advocate for you during this time.
If financial assistance is needed and funds allow - you can fill out our application for “Special Grants”
Gold Star family connection & support
Return to Loved Ones of the Fallen Resource Directory - LINK
Scroll down to learn more about these resources:
Gold Star extended families
Gold Star spouses
Gold Star children
Gold Star parents
Gold Star siblings
Suicide survivors
Other connection & support organizations
Stories
Organizations, speakers
Widow tips
Gold Star extended families:
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
http://www.taps.org/family/
Gold Star spouses:
American Widow Project (AWP)
The American Widow Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter…Military Widow to Military Widow. Site features include at 75 minute video, resources (songs, poems, books, do-it-yourself, finding support), newsletter, a hotline, and events.
Gold Star Wives
Gold Star Wives Of America, Inc. is an organization of military widows/widowers whose spouse died while on active duty or from service connected disabilities. This military survivors organization has been serving war widows from all conflicts and service connected disabilities since it was founded in 1945.
Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation
The Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation will be recognized as the leading worldwide resource for providing peer-based grief support programs. With five different Internet based programs, a vibrant community of widowed people, a large list of grief support resources in cities all over the country, and a positive forward looking energy cultivated at every level of our organization Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation is creating a network of support that is available all around the world.
The Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation is committed to providing compassionate community support to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one; through the creation and implementation of programs dedicated to the ideals of hope and healing.
Society of Military Widows
This organization benefits widows of members of all branches of the uniformed services of the United States.
Gives moral support, advice, referral service and, in general, help the widows of career military members to return to the main stream of normal living.
Educates the American public concerning the problems and needs of military widows in today's society, and
Preserves the basic truths and enduring principles on which the government of the United States is founded.
After the casualty officer and the caseworker have gone home and the paperwork is finished, how do you get through the lonely hours? As a military survivor, you very often face problems your civilian counterpart does not. The death of your spouse may be followed by a change of residence and separation from the network of support you have come to expect in the armed forces. You need someone who can help you through this difficult time.
Grief is a natural healing process that must be lived through. As military widows, we are here for you -- to help with your problems, as a support network, as friends, and, sometimes, simply a shoulder to cry on.
If you have specific questions related to your spouse's death or about your rights and benefits as a military survivor, please contact us.
Special Ops Survivors
PEER-TO-PEER MENTORSHIP - The key to our approach to healing is based upon finding common ground in relationships. Our approach provides the opportunity for survivors to come together with their peers to find comfort and healing in a judgment-free environment. Unlike a traditional mentorship model, our approach is grounded in a team perspective in which we believe that every survivor brings a unique and valuable perspective to the group. We believe this approach offers the new survivor a safe and understanding sounding board while, at the same time, helping the more experienced survivor progress in her or his own healing processes.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) - Gold Star spouses & significant others
Gold Star parents:
Gold Star Dads
Quite often I get letters and emails from gold star mothers, daughters or other family members who tell me they are so glad we started this organization for dads. They tell us how hard it has been on their husbands and their fathers and how they worry about them. For so long the fathers of soldiers have felt left out....With that in mind, we have opened the GSD Patriot Forum for members to help each other work those kinks out, brag about our sons and help with our loneliness. The GSD Patriot Forum is located in a members only section of the site and requires that you register. This Members Section is open to Gold, Blue & Silver Star family members as well as American Patriots who want to be part of this growing community.
Gold Star Moms
Welcome to American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. We're an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country. If you've lost your child and would like the community of others in your situation, we invite you to join us. No one knows how you feel like another mother who has lost a child.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Umbrella Ministries
A support ministry reaching to the hurts and hearts of mothers who have experienced the loss of a child.
Gold Star children:
Sons and Daughters in Touch
Our mission is to locate, unite and provide support to the Gold Star 'sons and daughters' and other family members of those who died or remain missing as a result of the Vietnam War; to produce a periodic e-newsletter providing important information to all SDIT stakeholders; to promote healing via networking and special projects, to regularly address other Gold Star family organizations, high schools and college classes in hopes of providing education on the historical and emotional legacy of war.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Gold Star siblings:
American Gold Star Siblings
www.facebook.com/TheGoldStarSiblings
American Gold Star Siblings', Inc. mission is to first support our fellow bereaved brothers and sisters of our sibling who made the supreme sacrifice while in the service of the United States of American Armed Forces. Secondly, we pledge to educate the American community about the history and meaning of the Blue Star Banner, Gold Star Banner, Gold Star Lapel Pin and Gold Star Next of Kin Pin. We will support and uphold all federal regulations on the aforementioned banners and pins. Finally, in continued support of our active troops and veterans we will assist reputable registered 501(c)3 organizations in their mission to assist those who serve this country.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Suicide survivors:
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
In the aftermath of a death by suicide, there may be confusion and questions circling in your mind. What if? Why? What could I have done? These are questions often asked by people who experience the death of a loved one, but they take on expanded meaning to people facing grief when their loved ones have died by suicide. You are not alone. TAPS is here to walk alongside you and offer comfort and help. Suicide survivors are welcome at all TAPS events for families of our fallen. There is a special suicide loss chat each month and we hold an annual gathering for suicide survivors in the fall.
Other connection & support opportunities
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"Gold Star" is a generic term used to describe a family member who has lost a loved one in military service. There are many organizations using the term "Gold Star". MarineParents.com, Inc. offers services to Gold Star Marine Corps Families. We offer grieving parents, spouses, and family members a Place to Connect & Share™ with one another.
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Grief Center is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. There are e-mail support groups and other web sites. Our integrated approach to on-line grief support provides help to people working through loss and grief issues of many kinds. Our companion site, KIDSAID, provides a safe environment for kids and their parents to find information and ask questions. Here we who mourn find safety and healing from those who mourn with us. At GriefNet we believe that healing is a natural process in everyone, and that it will occur if the environment, both within and without the person, is nourishing and protected from illness or harm.
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GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.
GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life.
There are thousands of GriefShare grief recovery support groups meeting throughout the US, Canada and in over ten other countries. There’s one meeting near you!
Also features A Season of Grief daily e-mails: 365 daily e-mails to help you through the grieving process.
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https://skysoldiersfoundation.org/donate/donation-options/gold-star-assistance-fund/
The Sky Soldiers Foundation and the 173d Airborne Brigade Association serve as the extended family for the fallen Sky Soldier heroes who have served with uncommon bravery and valor to preserve our liberty and freedom. The foundation marshals local chapters and resources to comfort and support Gold Star families in a variety of ways: Gold Star peer counseling, national Gold Star luncheons at reunions, local activities, etc.
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http://specialopssurvivors.org/index.php?page=emotional-support
Survivor Transition Assistance Recovery Team (START) - Special Ops Survivors understands that in the immediate days following a casualty notification, the new surviving spouse can become overwhelmed with the barrage of information and decisions that need to be made. The new survivor might not know anyone else who has been in a similar situation, a person who could make all the difference in the world during this difficult time. To respond to this need, we can provide seasoned survivor liaisons to the new survivor to lend dedicated emotional support during this period of transition.
Peer-to-Peer Mentorship - Our peer-to-peer mentorship program pairs new survivors with more experienced survivors (“mentors”). Peer-to-peer mentorship offers the new survivor a safe and understanding ear while, at the same time, helping the mentor progress in her/his own healing process. All peer mentors undergo training in grief counseling and must have a minimum of two years to grieve their own spouse’s death prior to becoming a mentor.
"Forget-Me-Not" Outreaches - Special Ops Survivors recognize that after the memorials are over, family, friends, and neighbors go back to their everyday lives – often leaving survivors feeling forgotten and alone. Our mission is to let surviving spouses know they are not alone. We do this by sending quarterly outreaches to our survivors throughout the year to let them know that they remain in our thoughts and hearts.
Other outreach activities take place throughout the year based on our survivors’ needs – whether it be celebrating a birthday, remembering the anniversary of a spouse’s death, letting someone know we are thinking about them when they are ill, or welcoming the birth of a baby.
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www.thesugarbearfoundation.org
When a spouse loses a service member it is a period of immense trauma, stress, and uncertainty. As a means of helping these families deal with our current situation and COVID-19, we are working to assist them in another period of transition. As such, we are very happy to offer a scholarship to work with Sarah Davis and take part in her coaching services.
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https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/personal-assistance/survivor-outreach
Our Fallen Warriors have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The army has a commitment to their families. Families deserve our respect, gratitude and the very best we can provide. The purpose of SOS is to deliver on that commitment:
• By providing access to support, information and services
• Closest location to where the Survivor resides
• When and for as long as they desire
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https://www.compassionatefriends.org/
Whether your family has had a child die (at any age from any cause) or you are trying to help those who have gone through this life altering experience, The Compassionate Friends exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process.
Through a network of more than 625 chapters with locations in all 50 states, as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico, The Compassionate Friends has been supporting bereaved families after the death of a child for four decades. The National Office and its staff also provide many levels of support to our chapters, as well as individual responses to those who call on the phone, contact us through our website, or send an e-mail that simply says, “My child has died. Help me!” We will be here as long as you need us. That is our commitment to you.
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www.taps.org or 1-800-959-8277 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Remember the love, celebrate the life, share the journey
Welcome to the home of America's front line resource for all who are grieving the death of a loved one serving our country. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whether it is just to talk, or meet others with shared experiences and understanding, or to find support and information from our professional network of resources.