LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing the United States Congress to pass
H.R. 4197, The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Act of 2009

WHEREAS, During World War I, mothers of sons and daughters who served in
the United States Armed Forces displayed flags bearing a blue star to
represent their pride in their sons and daughters and their hope that
they would return home safely; and
WHEREAS, For more than 60,000 of these mothers, that hope was shat-
tered, and many of them both during and after World War I, began to
display flags bearing a gold star to represent the sacrifice that their
sons and daughters made for freedom and their country; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the gold star has come to represent a child
that was killed while serving the United States Armed Forces, whether
the service was during wartime or during peace time; and
WHEREAS, In 1929, the United States Congress passed a law authorizing
the Federal Government to distribute funds for Gold Star Mothers, and
widows of those who were killed while serving in the United States Armed
Forces during World War I, to travel to the battlefields of Europe to
visit the burial sites of their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, On June 23, 1936, Congress passed Senate Joint Resolution 115
(74th Congress) which established the last Sunday in September as Gold
Star Mother's Day; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 48 of the Laws of 2006 added a day honoring American
Gold Star Mothers to the list of days of commemoration in New York
State; and
WHEREAS, The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Act of 2009 (H.R.
4197) would authorize The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Founda-
tion, a nonprofit corporation established under the laws of the District
of Columbia, to establish a monument on Federal land in the District of
Columbia or its environs, as a unit of the National Park Service; and
WHEREAS, Under this legislation the monument would be known as the
"Gold Star Mothers National Monument"; and
WHEREAS, The establishment of the monument would be carried out in
accordance with the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 8901 et seq.);
and
WHEREAS, The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation would be
solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of
the expenses of, the establishment of the monument; and
WHEREAS, Under this legislation, no Federal funds may be used to pay
such expenses that would occur in the establishment of this monument;
and
WHEREAS, The Gold Star Mothers National Monument will honor the moth-
ers of the fallen sons and daughters of past wars, and will also honor
the parents of the young men and women who have lost their lives in
present and future conflicts; and
WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans of America supports H.R. 4197, The Gold
Star Mothers National Monument Act of 2009; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize the United States Congress to pass H.R. 4197, The Gold Star
Mothers National Monument Act of 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, to each member of the Congress of the United
States from the State of New York, the National President of the Gold
Star Mothers, and the New York State President of the Gold Star Mothers.