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THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, Thursday, May 26, 2011 — FRANKLY SPEAKING —


REMEMBERING SACRIFICE: HONORING OUR GOLD STAR MOTHERS


by Frank Guinta U.S. Congress (R- N.H.)


Americans pause during


Memorial Day season to remember the long line of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have laid down their lives for our country. There is also a select


group of women who rarely receive the recognition they are due. Your neigh- bor, a colleague at work, or someone at your church could be one of them, and you might never know. They are not pioneers or inventors or stateswomen, yet they have contributed just as much to our nation as anyone else, and at a deeper, highly personal cost. They are called Gold Star


Mothers, women who lost their sons and daughters in military service in war- time. While our nation faithfully honors and re- members the sacrifice of those military members who gave – as Lincoln so eloquently put it – “the last full measure of devotion,” we have been much slower to honor the women who raised them, and who ulti- mately saw their child give his or her life to preserve our freedom. Back in World War I,


the government created special Service Flags. They were placed in a home’s front window to recognize family members who were serving in the military. A blue star in the middle of the flag indicated someone from that household was serving in uniform. A gold star indicated a family


member had died in mili- tary service. Soon, Gold Star Mother Clubs were created across the nation as an early support group. From World War II, Korea and Vietnam, on through the more recent Gulf and Iraq Wars, the number of Gold Star Mothers steadily grew. Gold Star Mothers know


a depth of loss that many people seldom experience. They carry that pain with them always. Yet at the same time, they also feel a sense of pride the rest of us will never know. Their hearts swell every time they recall the son or daughter who gave their life in service to our coun- try.


Just a few weeks ago,


New Hampshire dedicated the new Gold Star Moth- ers New England Regional


Monument in Manchester. It is a touching reminder of the countless women who, in their own way, have also been the victims of war. Now it is time for all


Americans to honor them. That is why I am proudly introducing the Gold Star Mothers National Monu- ment Act of 2011, along with my colleague Rep. Jon Runyan of New Jer- sey. It authorizes a Na- tional Gold Star Mother’s Monument to be erected in Washington, DC. That monument would be fi- nanced by private dona- tions and would not in- volve taxpayer funding. Given New Hampshire’s large veteran population, Granite Staters can appre- ciate the need for erecting this monument. As your Congressman,


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I am actively committed to making sure those who have served their country get the recognition and services they so rightly deserve. For example, I recently co-sponsored the Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. It requires the Department of Veter- ans Affairs to create a full- service hospital for military veterans in New Hamp- shire, or to make sure that comparable services are provided by contracting with in-state hospitals. So this Memorial Day season, please take a mo-


ment and consider how much you and your fam- ily owe the many Ameri- cans who have served their country over the years. When you see a veteran, thank him or her for their service. When you pass a memorial to the fallen, re- member that the freedom we enjoy today was paid for with their blood. And this year, be sure to


give a hug to the next Gold Start Mother you meet, and let her know how spe- cial and how appreciated she is. I look forward to report-


ing back to you in two weeks on the latest de- velopments in Washing- ton. In the meantime, if I can be of service to you, or if you want to share your thoughts, sugges- tions or concerns with me, please call either my dis- trict office in Manchester at (603) 641-9536 or my Washington office at (202) 225-5456, or contract me through my website at www.Guinta.House.Gov. You can also follow what I’m doing 24/7 on Face- book at www.facebook. com/repfrankguinta and on Twitter at @RepFrank- Guinta. Until next time, please


know that I am always on your side and am actively fighting for New Hamp- shire’s interests in Wash- ington.


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