Cantwell's "Gold Star Week" Resolution to Honor Families of Fallen Heroes Passes Senate

Statement

This week, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to establish the week of September 22-29, 2019, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week," honoring the families of fallen members of our nation's Armed Forces. Washington state is home to more than 552,000 veterans and 2,000,000 veteran family members.

"A gold star symbolizes a family member who died in the line of duty while serving in the Armed Forces," the resolution states. "The members and veterans of the Armed Forces, through their service, bear the burden of protecting the freedom of the people of the United States. [Their] sacrifices should never be forgotten."

Senate Resolution 313 encourages U.S. citizens to perform acts of good faith and service in remembrance of the fallen, veterans, and their families. Gold Star Families Remembrance Week comes just before Gold Star Mother's Day, which has been observed since 1936 on the last Sunday of September.

In addition to Senator Cantwell, the resolution was also sponsored by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Doug Jones (D-AL), Todd Young (R-IN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mike Braun (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).