New Hampshire Blue Star Mother's Day

New Hampshire Blue Star Mother’s Day. (May 15, 2016)

This Sunday, May 15th, the governor shall issue a proclamation calling for a proper observance of the first Sunday after Mother’s Day which shall be known as New Hampshire 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.

Since WWI mothers have hung "Blue Star Flags" in their windows while their children served in the armed forces especially during conflicts or wars. To be a Blue Mother or Father is an Honor only your child can give to you. The Blue Star stands for hope and pride.

Becoming a military parent continues the life long journey ... of hope and pride. As when your child was born, you were filled with that hope and pride as well as excitement, anxiety, fear and great joy. As you step into the walk of being a military parent that journey continues and once again life changes. You find yourself noticing even more the patriotic symbols all around you, flying your United States flag with a different kind of pride. Thus "Supporting Our Troops" in a way you have probably never before.

Life changes, as your child will hold him or herself to a higher standard, you too will find it changes your life. Forever supporting your child in a different way with even more hope and pride for serving our country to keep our land free.

May you and your child be blessed while this journey of life unfolds! Remember: "To be a Blue Star Mother or Father is an Honor only your child can give to you!"

Military Mothers ~ A Mother's Day Tribute

No one understands quite as much as another mother what it is like to have a child leave for a combat zone. No one knows what it is like to have a veteran return -- not quite the same. No one else hears the ring of the phone in quite the same way.

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 or Afghanistan.

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!

Operation Care for Troops Spring Event

May 2016 “Memorial Day” Packing Event Scheduled!

Operation Care for Troops will be holding its “Memorial Day” shipping event May 19, 20 and 21st.  If you would like to volunteer please sign up at volunteer@octnh.org.

This event’s theme is “Remembering those serving” by sending a reminder of “home” to them!

Please include the names of each person attending the event and the date or dates that they will be attending.

Hope to see you there!

The Operation Care for Troops Team

Operation Care for Troops

If you would like to add your service members name to our list please follow the guidelines below:

Beginning the shipping paperwork - If you, your unit, a family member, or friend is deployed, Please send your APO/FPO address to us with the number of troops in the unit.

Please don't post public but message FB or e-mail Ted Luszey, President, ted@octnh.org

Operation Care for Troops

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

Today we bow our heads to give thanks

Thanks to our Creator whose wisdom and strength is infinite.

Thanks to the winds, for cleansing tired and weary souls,
Thanks to the waters for life sustaining
Thanks to the Mother Earth as we lay her weary head to rest for
another season
Thanks to the Father Sun for warming our souls on the long cold days
Thanks to the fires that life is reborn anew.

Yes Creator today we give thanks for all of your little miracles
we take so much for granted each day

I thank you Creator for my warrior son,
Whose proud stance and carriage has
Carried him through many dark days,
And even darker nights.
He knows the Warriors Creed and
Knows the life he lives was chosen
Long ago for him.

I thank you Creator for the many hands
Each one holding a star blue or gold, to be enfolded
In this blanket not yet made
Each star is a prayer yet unanswered
They that share the knitting of a new blanket
In life they are the ones keeping the home fires lit

They are -
The mothers who stand beside, their child
Who are so far away, but so very near
The wives who stand beside their husbands
Who are so far away but so very near
The daughters who stand beside their
Mothers and grandmothers waiting for mommy or daddy to come home.
The husbands and fathers who stand waiting for their loved one
To come home.

Creator this day we give thanks
For prayers not yet answered.
Keep all of our family near and far strong –
know in our weakest moments
we are the strongest, know in the darkest moments
we are the light to guide them home.

Yes Creator this is a day of thanks
For all that has come before
And all that will come after.
Each little moment we give thanks
To you.

Keep our warriors strong,
Keep our warriors safe
Until all our hands and voices
Once again join together
Singing praise of Thanksgiving

Lynn VanCoonis 2007
Proud NH Blue Star Mother