Sunday, September 28, 2014 is Gold Star Mother's Day. A day to remember our fallen and be grateful to to mothers who raised them.

Toast to our Troops

Please join us, the Blue Star Mothers of NH, on Sunday, July 6, 2014 for our first annual Toast to our Troops at the beautiful LaBelle Winery ~ 345 Route 101, Amherst, New Hampshire 03031. This will be a fun filled afternoon of wine tasting with food pairings, raffles and 50/50 drawing. Our own Blue Star Dad and professional voice over artist Larry F. Murphy will be our master of ceremony. 

The event runs from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Tickets are $30.00 a piece and can be purchased from our website: www.bluestarmothersofnh.org for more information you can contact us at bluestarmothersofnh@yahoo.com.  Tickets must be purchased before the event. The first 130 ticket holders will also receive a complimentary wine glassed etched with "Toast to our Troops" as a thank you for your support. 

We have some great raffle items...Salmon Falls Pottery, signed hockey puck by Jonathan Quick of the L.A. Kings and Coach of the US Olympic hockey team, gift certificates for dining out at many of our NH restaurants, cruise tickets for the Mount Washington, just to name a few. 

The mission of Blue Star Mothers of NH is to support our men and women who are serving our country around the world. Although our mission will never change, time has come to adjust our focus and provide greater levels of support for our valued veterans. This can be done in so many ways – providing meals at local Vet’s Centers, helping out at our local homeless veteran shelters, getting involved in local colleges who have set up special educational Veteran Centers, and the list goes on.

We owe these men and women so much.  We look forward to seeing you at the Toast to our Troops.

Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire
www.bluestarmothersofnh.org

Happy Birthday Bowe Bergdahl

Today is Bowe's 28th birthday. While birthdays are typically a cause for celebration, the thought that Bowe has now seen 5 birthdays come and go while in captivity is heartbreaking. This is why today, Bowe's birthday, is a day of solemness. We reflect on it in our own way and it motivates us all differently for different reasons. But in the end what we all want, what we pray for, is that Bowe will soon return home to his family, to the place that is safe and familiar.

Maybe today we can all tell somebody that a friend who you've never met is having a birthday, that his name is Bowe Bergdahl. Tell them about Bowe and ask them to tell his story too. Today give Bowe the gift of your time. Dear Bowe Supporters, it's YOU who stand in the gap for Bowe until he comes home. We are all waiting and advocating for Bowe until we can celebrate his homecoming.

Don't forget that you can go to supportbowe.org and leave a message of support for Bowe and his family. The Guest Book entries are being saved so that when Bowe gets home, they'll always be there for him to read. Here's the link to the Guest Book if you'd like to add your name to it: http://supportbowe.org/guest-book-current/

Vietnam Welcome Home

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2014
Contact LTC Greg Heilshorn, 603-225-1340

An open letter from Maj. Gen. William N. Reddel III, adjutant general of the New Hampshire National Guard:

A year ago New Hampshire welcomed home its Vietnam veterans.

Held to coincide with the national commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war, the March 30 ceremony inside a Concord national guard hangar drew more than 2,000 people. Some traveled from other New England states to hear Gov. Maggie Hassan, the state's congressional delegation and numerous generals officially recognize a generation of service members treated badly by the nation that sent them to fight.

On Saturday, April 5, the governor and New Hampshire's elected officials will host another ceremony for Vietnam veterans beginning at 2 p.m. at White Mountain Regional High School in Whitefield. With 46,000 Vietnam-era veterans in New Hampshire there were many who could not attend the first one. The state's intent is to make the event an annual gathering, each time
in a different location and each time to say, "Thank you for your service.
Welcome Home."

I understand that there is no excuse for nearly a half century of apathy -- that no amount of polished speech and glad-handing will completely erase such an embarrassing period in our national history. For some Vietnam veterans Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or their military branch's birthday are sufficient enough reminders of their service. I am also aware of the lingering doubt of what constitutes a Vietnam veteran. Does it also include those men and women who were drafted and served stateside or in a country
other than Vietnam? I believe so. Is their service and sacrifice any less meaningful because they were sent to Germany, Italy or Alaska? Certainly not.

Underscoring this national reconciliation is the fact that these very same veterans swore that the next generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast guardsmen returning from war would receive the gratitude they deserved. Spend some time with the Pease Greeters and you will understand just how serious they have been about delivering on that promise. Since 2005, nearly 200,000 U.S. troops have passed through a gauntlet of praise and admiration at the International Tradeport whether they are flying
home or overseas. They do not distinguish by operation, country served in or branch of service.

The rest of us can learn by their example.

Join us on April 5.

Let these ceremonies -- one is being planned for June for New Hampshire's Korean War veterans -- serve as rally points to reinvigorate our collective conscience. To remind us of those who sacrificed more than was ever asked of them. And to appreciate them and, hopefully, be inspired by them.

Sincerely,

Maj. Gen. William N. Reddel III
Adjutant General, New Hampshire National Guard

Wreaths for Boscawen ~ 

We want to share with you a great event that is happening in New Hampshire on December 14, 2013. 

Wreaths for NH Veterans Cemetery

We will be laying 1,000 wreaths at the NH Veterans Cemetery

on December 14, 2013 ~ Starting at 10:30am

This is an idea that started with a Gold Star Family in 2007 and was inspired by the wreaths placed at Arlington National Cemetery (Worcester Wreath Company) the Blue Star Mothers decided we needed to answer this Christmas wish.

If you would like to make a donation to help us purchase a 12" Balsam Wreath with a four loop red bow is $6.50, our wreaths are purchased locally and delivered to the NH Veterans Cemetery on December 14th. Download the donation form ~ you may make your donation in Honor of or in Memory of someone that will be entered on our Tribute page.

Join us for the Wreaths for Boscawen on Dec. 14th. To learn
more visit: 

http://www.bluestarmothersofnh.org/WreathsBoscawen.html

Wreaths of Remembrance ~ this Saturday at Hesky Park, Meredith

Wreaths of Remembrance ~ this Saturday at Hesky Park, Meredith

The Blue Star Mothers of NH will be once again holding the Wreaths of Remembrance ceremonies in their communities across the state at their town's War Memorial.

The Blue Star Mothers in the Lakes Region will be holding the Wreaths of Remembrance on December 7, 2013 at 11:00 in front of the POW/MIA Memorial in Hesky Park, Meredith, NH. All are welcome to attend.

The wreath(s) represent our commitment as a United America to remember the fallen. This holiday wreath symbolizes our respect to all Military Personnel, both past and present, and to their families who have endured sacrifices everyday on our behalf. To our children, we want you to understand the freedoms you enjoy today have not been free but have come with a cost that someday, you may have to pay yourself. As a nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice. Thanks to our Veterans, we have the freedom to do just that.

This year the Christmas Wreath laying is to raise awareness of POW Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, American POW being held captive in Afghanistan at this time and a way of letting his family know that they do not wait alone. We are asking that you send a Christmas card to Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 2050 and to Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, c/o American Red Cross, 2025 E Street NW, Washington DC 2006. The message should be short and positive..suggestion "Blessings, we wait for your safe return".

Wreaths of Remembrance in Londonderry ~ Blue Star Mothers of NH

Wreath Laying to be Held this Saturday

The members of the New Hampshire Blue Star Mothers will again host a wreath laying ceremony on the Town Common this weekend. The ceremony will be held in memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom, in honor of those presently servicing in the military and in tribute to U.S. military personnel whose last known status was either Prisoner of War of Missing in Action.

Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 9 AM

This marks the fifth year the Blue Star Mothers have come together for a wreath laying. Past ceremonies have opened with a moment of silence to remember the fallen, a speech on behalf of the mothers, and the laying of the wreath.

History of the Blue Star Mothers

On January 22, 1942 the Flint News Advertiser printed a coupon asking Mothers of serviceman to return the coupon after filling it out. The following February 1st 300 mothers met in the Durant Hotel, in Flint Blue Star Mothers Michigan. Captain George H. Maines, who had conceived the idea for this group, acted as the chair of this first meeting. It was decided that after receiving 1000 responses from the ad to form a permanent organization.

On February 6th the organization was reported on Congressional record. Chapters then formed in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, California, Iowa and Washington. In June of 1960 the organization was chartered by congress.

Mothers volunteered throughout the tough times of World War II. They worked in hospitals, train stations, packed care packages for soldiers and were an working part of homeland security during times our time of war. The organization waned in size over the years but has held together by mothers showing pride in both their children and country. In recent times they have began to grow in strength. Being attacked on our own soil has once again started mothers hanging flags in their windows at home proclaiming pride in the fact that we have children protecting our freedom during at time of war.

The organization not only provides support for active duty service personnel, promotes patriotism, assists Veterans organizations, and are available to assist in homeland volunteer efforts to help our country remain strong.