Happy Birthday Blue Star Mothers

Happy 77th anniversary to our BSMA sisters!! Remember our mission of helping our Troops and Veterans, coming along side the families of our Fallen and to support each other! #bluestarmothersofamerica

Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor, there was a conversation between two men, retired Army Captain George Maines and General John Pershing. The concerns were the morale of the mothers of military personnel and the direct effect it might have on the Troops. On January 21st, 1942 the idea of a new patriotic organization was organized. The information was published on the front page of the Flint News Advertiser on Jan. 22nd. It asked military mothers to fill out a coupon and return it to receive a blue star to place in their windows. The response was so large that a meeting was called.

This meeting was on February 1, 1942. This was eight weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Just eight weeks after the death of Flint son, Jack Pitcher who was aboard the battle ship USS West Virginia. It was then that 358 mothers gathered at the Durant Hotel. Captain Maines shared the vision and after a few minutes of silent contemplation, Mrs. Adda Harris stood and challenged the mothers who sat there in silence. She asked that they give Captain Maines a vote of confidence. There was an overwhelming vote of support to start this new organization known as Blue Star Mothers of America. The rest is history!

Happy 77th. anniversary to our BSMA sisters!! Remember our mission of helping our Troops and Veterans, coming along side the families of our Fallen and to support each other!

Missing Man Table and Flag Dedication Ceremony

Please RSVP: kristin.pressly@va.gov

Military Appreciation Day at Apple Hill Farm

Enjoy apple picking, face painting, pumpkin painting, apple crisp, and more, FREE to all current Service Members, Veterans, Retirees, and their families. No need to register, just present your Military ID it’s your ticket in. Are you a family member who doesn’t have a military ID? No problem, just e- mail the Blue Star Mothers at nhbluestarmom@yahoo.com. Put the words APPLE HILL on the subject line. Include the name and branch of service of your Service Member in the body of the e-mail.

WHAT: Military Appreciation Day

WHO: All Service Members, Veterans, Retirees and their families;

WHEN: Sunday, September 23, 2018, from
11AM to 4PM - RAIN or SHINE!

WHERE: Apple Hill Farm, Concord, NH

COST: None, it’s FREE!

Apple Hill Farm is located at 580 Mountain Road, Concord, NH 03301. From the south, take Exit 17 off Route 93, left at the top of the ramp, then left at the blinking yellow light; from the north take exit 17E off Route 93, bear right, then left at the blinking yellow light. Look for the Apple Hill Farm sign on your right.

The Souther Family honors all Military, past and present, and are looking forward to seeing you again this year.

“The DoD and the NHNG does not (expressly or by implication) endorse any Non-Federal Entities (NFE), NFE events, or the sponsors of those events, that are referenced in this email, its attachments, or any associated event websites.”

NH Blue Star Mother's Day

Happy New Hampshire Blue Star Mother's Day (First Sunday after Mother's Day)

In honor of our New Hampshire Blue Star Mothers, this day is dedicated to you.... Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Many people still ask what are the Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire? Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire is an organization dedicated to supporting the mothers of service members. We support each other and educate people on how to support families affected by military service.

I say Thank You to these moms, who raised their babies into adults, are now telling their daughters and sons to be safe. Blue Star mothers sit and wait for phone calls. These moms worry, pray, watch the news and send care packages. These moms hope their children come home, too.

I want to wish our Blue Star moms a Happy Blue Star Mother's Day. Believe it or not, your service and sacrifice do not go unnoticed. Thank you for being unselfish and for supporting the decisions your child has made. It could not have been easy for you to watch a daughter or son join the military. This grateful nation appreciates you.

I hope more and more people realize the effect the military has on a family. It is not just a spouse and children who are affected. It is an entire family. Parents, in-laws, brothers, sisters, cousins, all members of the family feel the vacancy a service member leaves when they are gone.

For our Blue Star moms, you are my hero. It is also my hope that you never forget that you are so important. It is because of your love, support and encouragement that our nation sleeps well.

To you all New Hampshire thanks you with this special day:

The governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling for a proper observance of the first Sunday after Mother’s Day which shall be known as Blue Star Mother’s Day recognizing and honoring all mothers who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the United States Armed Forces. The governor shall urge the citizens of this state to observe this day with appropriate events.

Military Mothers ~ A Mother's Day Tribute

This Sunday, moms across the country will be treated to breakfast in bed, homemade cards, bouquets of flowers and fancy dinners in restaurants. But for those who have sons and daughters fighting wars overseas, Mother’s Day won’t be all roses.

The term "Military Mothers" describes two distinct groups of women. On the one hand, it describes mothers whose sons and daughters are members of the military. On the other, it describes mothers who are themselves members of the military.

Though many military mothers have grown used to their children’s absences on Mother’s Day and other special occasions, it doesn’t make those times any easier especially for moms whose sons and daughters are in the line of fire in Iraq, Afghanistan or she may not even know where they are.

Mothers whose children are in the military and deployed to military bases around the world or serving in a war zone far from home, live with daily fear and worry for the lives of those to whom they gave birth, and nurtured into the fine young men and women they are. They worry that those children may return home with missing limbs or with PTSD, and may not be the same person who deployed, or that they may return in a flag-draped casket.

And mothers, who must leave their children behind to go to a war zone far from home, live with daily fear for their own lives because they worry about the possibility that their children may have to grow up without a mother. And they worry about the impact their absence will have on little psyches, and whether that impact will be lasting.

We assure you, both groups are heroes.

And we'd like to wish them, and all the other mothers out there, a Happy Mother's Day!

Blue Star Mothers of NH

Shoes and Sneakers for Liberty House

Hello Kathy and gang,

Our customers at Blue Seal in Derry, NH have collected over 250 shoes for the Liberty house this past month. Our goal was for 300 so we have a little ways to go. We have a box at our store, people can use our drive thru to have us unload the shoes or back packs that they donate for the Liberty House. You don’t even have to get out of your car if you don’t want to:)

Our animal Vet  is also a drop off spot . The Deerfield Vet Office of Dr Simon George on 150 South Rd in Deerfield NH, there is a huge box inside.

The front office on the left side. If you stop in to drop off please thank them, they also have been a huge hit with collecting clothes and the previous Winter helping us collect over 100 sleeping bags for the homeless veterans. Dr Georges wife Jenny is amazing sending out info on what we are collecting via Facebook and using her office to benefit our needs.

Hope everyone is well,

Kerry Rodgers