Happy 241st Birthday Army

Two hundred forty-one years ago, our nation's leaders established the Continental Army. Today, the Army is the strategic landpower of the joint force; called upon to prevent, shape, and win against our adversaries.

The U.S. Army's 241st Birthday is June 14, 2016, a day we celebrate the Total Army Force comprised of multi-component Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians and their contributions to national defense. The American Soldier trains, deploys, engages, and destroys enemies of the United States in combat operations as the world's premier land force.

The American Soldier -- Always Ready, Always Leading

Today, as in years past, Soldiers serve as the cornerstone of the Army Profession. As Army Professionals, we are grateful for the opportunity to maintain the trust and confidence of the American people while adding to our legacy of 241 years strong.

Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day ceremony

Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day ceremony

Date: April 9, 2016
Time: 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Location: 
New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept of NH, the NH Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, and the NH VFW Ladies-Auxiliary cordially invite you and your family and friends to the annual Former Prisons of War Recognition Day ceremony.

Honoring Our New Hampshire Gold Star Mothers

New Hampshire observes Gold Star Mother’s Day on the Sunday following Easter each year. These women inspire others through their poise, gallantry and resilience to honor their son or daughter’s legacy.

For nearly a century, the Gold Star tradition has reminded Americans of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for their country. The tradition dates back to World War I when military families would hang a blue star in the windows of their homes to signify an active duty service member. That blue star was replaced with a gold star when a service member was killed in the line of duty.

This allowed members of the community to know the price that the family had paid in the cause of freedom. From this simple act of unity, the Gold Star Mothers, a network of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in combat, was formed.

The title of Gold Star Mother is a badge no woman wants. However, these women have stepped forward past the restraint of loss to band together for support and guidance. This group compiles matriarchs from generations of women who have survived their children during our nation’s historic conflicts. Their unifying loss bonds them when the rest of the world is numb to the aftermath of their children’s ultimate sacrifice.

Our Gold Star Mothers extend a hand to one another as an act of unifying and healing. If your or someone you know is a Gold Star Mother you can contact the State President, Denise Gionet ~  nhgoldstarmothers@gmail.com for more information.

                                        NH Gold Star Mother Memorial ~ Manchester, NH

An Open Letter to Our Veterans

Since we became an independent country many years have come and gone, however, there is one constant that remains from the 1700’s through today. Our country has had many brave men and women volunteer to defend our country. There was a movie produced about World War II, whose name I cannot recall, but at the end there is a line which rings true (even though the words are not an exact quote), “Where do we get these brave men and women to always step forward when the need arises?” These men and women come from all over our country and too many times are taken for granted. Men and women, who during times of war and peace, are on-call 24 hours a day 7 days a week and spend countless holidays, birthdays and special events away from their family and friends. The pay is not great, but they continue to volunteer and many make it a career. They are mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. We may not always agree in the wars and battles that we fight, but this should not deter us from the support we give to these men and women in uniform. It is through the sacrifice that they and the numerous individuals before them have made, which provides us with the freedoms we have to disagree and speak our objections. While words cannot pay what we owe you and your families, we ‘thank you’ for your sacrifice. To the families who have lost loved ones, we offer our most heartfelt condolences. Many of us have never endured the pain you must feel, but our hearts hurt for your loss and wish we could help ease your pain. Let us never forget the people who did not make it home. Remember those still serving in our prayers and never take for granted the sacrifices they make. In closing, one more time I would like to say…… THANK YOU!!!

Wreaths for Boscawen ~ 

We want to share with you a great event that is happening in New Hampshire on December 12, 2015

Wreaths for NH Veterans Cemetery

We will be laying 1,500 wreaths at the NH Veterans Cemetery

on December 12, 2015 ~ 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.
Your donation of $7.00 will help us purchase the 12" Balsam Wreaths with a four loop red bow. Our wreaths are purchased locally and delivered to the NH Veterans Cemetery on December 12th. Download the donation form where you can 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 December 12th. To learn more visit: Blue Star Mothers of NH ~ Wreaths for Boscawen .

Gold Star Mothers Day Observed

Gold Star Mothers Day Observed ~ September 27, 2015

The United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September in 1936. It is a day for people to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving the United States Armed Forces.

Mothers of fallen service members began calling themselves "Gold Star Mothers" during the First World War, but the sorrowful bond they share reaches back to every woman who has lost a son or daughter in uniform since our nation's revolution.

In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson approved the wearing of black armbands bearing a gold star by those who had a family member who died in the military service to the United States. This distinguished them from the blue stars, representing a family member presently serving in the armed forces.

During World War I, families would hang flags in their windows that were white with red borders, inside, a blue star would represent each family member who was serving in the military. The name the Gold Star Mothers was derived from the custom of military families who when a service member was killed, the blue star was changed to a gold star.

Eleven years after the end of World War I, the United States Congress took an unprecedented step in the history of warfare, giving unusual recognition to the mothers of those killed in that war.

American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was incorporated in 1929, obtaining a federal charter from the US Congress. It began with 25 mothers living in the Washington DC area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups throughout the nation. On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day, a holiday that has been observed each year by a presidential proclamation.

In 1947, the Gold Star Lapel pin was designed and created to be presented to eligible surviving family members of service members who died while deployed in support of overseas contingency operations, or who died from wounds sustained in theater. A gold star symbolizes a family member who died in the line of duty while serving the United States Armed Forces.  It may be seen on a service flag or in the form of a pin, which is worn by Gold Star mothers. The pin is not limited to mothers and it is awarded by the US Department of Defense.

In the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944:

"There is nothing adequate which anyone in any place can say to those who are entitled to display the gold star in their windows America lives in freedom because of the sacrifices of America's finest citizens and of the mothers who raised them.."