Local Blue Star Mothers visited Washington, D.C.
Blue Star Mothers from across the country, including Jen Pecarina the president of the Wright County Area Blue Star Mothers chapter, attended Memorial Day activities and participated in the Rolling to Remember event in Washington, D.C. Blue Star Mothers who had the honor of being chosen to attend Memorial Day activities in Washington, D.C. this year numbered 33. The passion these ladies have for our fallen military and the families they left behind, as well as the mission of the organization justified, to them, to spend their holiday weekend and their own money to attend these events.
The weekend (Friday, May 26, through Monday, May 29, Memorial Day) began with the candlelight vigil honoring the fallen through their Gold Star Families (moms, wives, children) held at the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Friday evening. A wreath was laid in remembrance of all those lost. The Gold Star Mothers and Gold Star Wives were escorted by AMVETS (American Veterans) organization to the center of the Wall. A wreath was laid, a benediction given, and a lone bugler stood atop the wall and played “Taps.” The Blue Star Mothers each laid a flower next to the wreath.
On Saturday, Blue Star Mothers were escorted via motorcycle riding with AMVETS to Arlington National Cemetery. They visited Section 60, which is where men and women are buried from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Afghanistan and Iraq casualties) and placed flowers at gravesites. After visiting Section 60, they attended the Rolling to Remember 2023 Gold Star Escort Banquet at Military Women’s Memorial. The program consisted of recognizing the Gold Star Mothers and the Gold Star Wives, different AMVETS posts presenting checks, the presentation of a beautiful helmet presented to Sarah Taylor, President of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. in honor of her son, and ended with a luncheon. After the luncheon, moms had the opportunity to tour the museum and go to Thunder Alley, which street was blocked off and set aside for the selling of memorabilia, such as patches, t-shirts, vests, purses, pins, etc. to commemorate the weekends’ events.
Sunday was the day of the big ride! Motorcycles received blessings for the ride and Gold Star Moms, Gold Star Wives and Blue Star Mothers were paired with a motorcycle escort for the Rolling to Remember Ride 2023, formerly known as Rolling Thunder. The starting point was the Pentagon parking lot, and hundreds of motorcycles rode down Constitution, Independence, and Pennsylvania Avenues. It was amazing to see so many people standing alongside the road waving flags, taking photos, and cheering us on. The pride in our heroes swelled up in every mom and wifes’ heart that so many people would come out to honor the fallen heroes as well. During the ride, the saluting Marine stood and saluted while the motorcycles rode by. The Blue Star Mothers had the honor of meeting him in person on Friday afternoon.
This huge motorcycle rally’s mission is to raise awareness of POW’s and MIA’s and the over 80,000 service members still missing in action. The ride began in 1988 with Rolling Thunder, however, AMVETS took it over about three years ago, and it is now known as Rolling to Remember. It also spotlights the national suicide epidemic of losing 22 veterans each day to suicide. This is a serious weekend promoting awareness and accountability for POW’s and MIA’s left behind and for suicide prevention.
Sunday evening many Blue Star Mothers and AMVETS watched the Memorial Day concert on the television in their hotel lobby. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room after hearing the stories of veterans reenacted and listening to the music. We truly are brothers and sisters working towards a mutual cause.
On Monday, Memorial Day, half of the Blue Star Mothers delegation attended the Memorial Day Observance Ceremony in the amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery. The United States Navy Band played and the Sea Chanters Chorus sang several patriotic selections. Chaplain Colonel James Foster, Joint Task Force National Capital Region, gave the invocation. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed and then General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave the welcome speech. Following the welcome speech, the band and chorus performed “This Land is Your Land.” The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, gave some remarks. The Memorial Day address was then given by President Biden. “Taps” was played to conclude the ceremony, Chaplain Foster gave the Benediction. “God Bless America” was performed by the band and chorus as we saw the departure of President Biden and the official party. Two of our mothers participated in the parade of colors at the beginning of the ceremony and in the dismissal of colors to the “National Emblem March.” Postlude was “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “This is My Country,” The Blue Star Mothers carried the American flag and the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. flag. Those moms in attendance had their picture taken with Chaplain Foster the national chaplain. When the program ended, the Blue Star Mothers walked around to the side of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where the National President, Stacy Anders from California and National Second Vice President, Karen Stillwell from Ohio placed a wreath at the tomb.
After this, there was another program held at the Military Women’s Memorial. A welcome was given by CW5 Phyllis J. Wilson, USA, Retired, the foundation President of the Military Women’s Museum. Presentation of the colors was performed by the US Marine Ceremonial Color Guard and the National Anthem sung by MSgt Sara Sheffield, USMC. The invocation was given by Chaplain (LCDR) Yonina Creditor, USN 3rd Battalion Chaplain, US Naval Academy. Phyllis Wilson spoke about the history of the museum and the mission going forward. She then introduced one by one to tell their story, female military members from each branch of service. After each of them spoke, the keynote address was given by Ms. Brenda “Sue” Fulton, the Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs. Wreaths were laid by several VSO (Veterans Service Organization) and the president of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. in lieu of laying a wreath presented Ms. Wilson with a check, which she gratefully accepted. The afternoon concluded with personal tributes from Gold Star Moms and Gold Star Wives, the benediction by the chaplain and “Taps” played by MSgt Amy McCabe, USMC. We were honored to meet a 100-year-old female veteran who was in the audience. We honored the fallen with Mindful Memorial Day with each of us receiving the name, date of death, and gravesite location in Arlington of a fallen hero. Never forget.
The other half of the Blue Star Mothers delegation attended the program at the World War II Memorial in the morning and then walked in the parade in the afternoon. The program at the World War II Memorial included wreath laying by the military branches, presentation and retiring of the colors by the Armed Forces Color Guard, National Anthem by the United States Army Brass Quintet, invocation by Chaplain (LTC) William Horton and speakers Mr. Jeffrey Reinbold, Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks and Mrs. Jane Droppa, Chair, Friends of the National World War II Memorial. The most powerful part of the program was the “Parade of Heroes,” which was World War II Veterans. “Taps” and a service medley by the United States Army Brass Quintet concluded the program. In the afternoon, these moms braved the wind and rain to walk, carrying banners, in the Memorial Day parade along Constitution Avenue representing Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
This concluded the events for the weekend. Some of the moms arrived a day or two early and were able to visit the Botanical Gardens, the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History. They ended Monday evening with dinner together, as most moms were flying home Tuesday morning. It was a wonderful experience for all who attended, and they were honored to be asked to represent the organization.
If you are a mom and have a child currently serving in any branch of the United States military, including Guard and Reserve or a Veteran child, we want to hear from you! The Wright County Area Blue Star Mothers chapter meets the second Monday of the month at the Buffalo American Legion beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the large hall. The next regularly-scheduled meeting was Monday, June 12. The July 10 meeting will be a meet-and-greet held at Sturges Park from 6-8 p.m. featuring rootbeer floats for all. We invite any military family members (as well as the general public) to come out to the park and meet us to learn more about Blue Star Mothers, our mission, and what we have to offer you. The Blue Star Mothers organization is 81-years-old this year! For more information, please contact the chapter president at president.mn13@bluestarmothers.us.
