May 3, 2019
Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
Background
armed force, as the result of an international terrorist attack
During the years of U.S. participation in World War I
against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the
(WWI, 1917-1918), a service banner with a blue star was
United States or as the result of military operations while
flown by some families to represent each family member in
serving outside the United States as part of a peacekeeping
military service. The white field, edged with red, holds up
force.”
to five stars. See Figure 1. This flag was conceived by
Families of those servicemembers who died by suicide or
Army Captain Robert L. Queisser during WWI to honor his
sons’ military service.
from a medical emergency outside deployment are not, by
A practice developed that when a
law, Gold Star family members but may qualify for the
servicemember was killed in action (KIA), the blue star
Next of Kin Lapel Button.
with replaced with a gold one.
According to 10 USC § 1126(d), "the Gold Star Lapel
Figure 1. Blue and Gold Star Service Banners (Flags)
Button shall be distributed to the widow or widower
(remarried or not), each parent (mother, father, stepmother,
stepfather, mother through adoption, father through
adoption, and foster parents); each child, each brother, each
sister, each half-brother, each half-sister, each stepchild,
and each adopted child of the servicemember.”
Next of Kin Lapel Button
Approved in 1973, the Next of Kin Lapel Button (also
referred to as the Next of Kin Pin) is provided to the
families of servicemembers who lost their lives while
serving on active duty or while serving in a drill status as a
member of the National Guard or Reserves but not KIA.
The Next of Kin Lapel Button is gold, with a star within a
circle of sprigs of oak. According to the Department of
Source: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Programs at
Defense (DOD), A Survivor’s Guide to Benefits, “The star
http://vfwauxiliaryprograms.blogspot.com/2014/12/americanism-what-
within the circle commemorates honorable service and the
do-gold-star-blue-star.html.
sprigs of oak refer to the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and
Air Force.”
In May 1918, President Woodrow Wilson approved the
recommendation by the Women’s Committee of the
Figure 2. Gold Star Lapel Button (left) and Next of
Council for National Defense that American women should
Kin Lapel Button (right)
wear a black band on the upper left arm, affixed with a gold
star to signify the loss of a family member during the war.
Wilson was the first to use of the term “Gold Star Mothers”
in his letter to the Women's Committee. The designation of
“Gold Star” refers to those who suffered the loss of an
immediate family member killed in in combat (i.e., Gold
Star Wife/Spouse, etc.). This recognition continues.
Gold Star Lapel Button
The Gold Star Lapel Button (also called the Gold Star Pin)
Source: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) at
was designed and created in 1947 for certain family
https://www.taps.org/articles/15-2/goldstarpins.
members of those who died in combat in World War II. The
Gold Star Lapel Button is a gold star on a field of purple
Gold Star Military Benefits
surrounded by laurel leaves. See Figure 2. According to 10
After the death of a servicemember on active duty, a
U.S. Code § 1126(a), “the military departments shall
casualty assistance officer is assigned by the respective
provide a Gold Star Lapel Button to each of the immediate
military department to assist any surviving spouse,
family members of servicemembers who lost their lives
child(ren), or other designated beneficiaries, with all
while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United
eligible benefits and entitlements. These generally include
States, while engaged in military operations involving
the following:
conflict with an opposing foreign force, while serving with
friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the
$100,000 tax-exempt, lump sum, DOD death gratuity
United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing
paid to designated beneficiaries.
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Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
Burial assistance including the disposition of remains
NDAA for FY2006, Section 562. Policy and Procedures on
and travel to the burial site for the servicemember’s
Casualty Assistance to Survivors of Military Decedents.
immediate family.
P.L. 109-163, div. A, Title V, §562, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat.
Any unpaid pay and allowances at the time of death.
3267, as amended by P.L. 109-364, div. A, Title V, §566,
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2223.
Access to commissaries and exchanges.
NDAA for FY2013, Section 2859. Establishment of a
Medical and TRICARE benefits.
national monument to Gold Star Mothers in Washington,
Up to $400,000 non-taxable Servicemembers’ Group
DC. Jan. 3, 2013, P.L. 112-239, § 2859, 126 Stat. 2164. For
Life Insurance (SGLI) payment.
more information, see CRS Report R43744, Monuments
One or more survivor benefit annuities (DOD Survivor
and Memorials Authorized Under the Commemorative
Benefit Plan, and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs
Works Act in the District of Columbia: Current
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation; receipt of
Development of In-Progress and Lapsed Works, by Jacob
more than one annuity may require offsets between the
R. Straus.
annuities).
NDAA for FY2014, Section 633. Improved assistance for
Each benefit described above has unique eligibility criteria.
Gold Star spouses and other dependents. Requires each
Survivors may, or may not, qualify for a given benefit
secretary of a military department to designate a specific
based on their unique circumstances. For details on who
member to assist spouses and dependents of
qualifies for a given benefit, see DOD’s A Survivor’s Guide
servicemembers, including Reserve Components, who die
to Benefits; VA Benefits for Veterans’ Spouses,
on active duty. Dec. 26, 2013, P.L. 113-66, § 633, 127 Stat.
Dependents, and Survivors site; and CRS Report R45325,
693.
Military Survivor Benefit Plan: Background and Issues for
Gold Star Fathers Act of 2015 (Derived Veterans’
Congress, by Kristy N. Kamarck and Barbara Salazar
Preference for Parents). To amend chapter 21 of Title 5,
Torreon.
United States Code, to provide that fathers of certain
Selected Legislation
permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be
Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage. An Act to
included with mothers of such veterans as preference
enable the mothers and widows of deceased American
eligibles for treatment in the civil service. Oct. 7, 2015, P.L.
servicemembers interred in European cemeteries to make a
114-62, 129 Stat 547.
pilgrimage to these cemeteries. Mar. 2, 1929, Public Law
70-952, 45 Stat. 1508.
Gold Star Families Voices Act. To amend the Veterans'
Gold Star Mother’s Day
Oral History Project Act to allow the collection of video
. Designating the last Sunday in
September as “Gold
and audio recordings of biographical histories by immediate
Star Mother's Day,” and for other
family members of members of the Armed Forces who died
purposes. June 23, 1936, Pub. Res. 123, 49 Stat. 1895.
as a result of their service during a period of war. Nov. 28,
Gold Star Lapel Button. To provide appropriate lapel
2016, P.L. 114-246, 130 Stat. 995.
buttons for widows, parents, and next of kin of members of
Relevant Statutes
the armed forces who lost their lives in the U.S. armed
services. Aug. 1, 1947, P.L. 80-306, 61 Stat. 710.
Title 10 U.S. Code, § 1126 - Gold star lapel button: eligibility
and distribution.
Gold Star Lapel Button and the Cold War. To amend
Title 10 U.S. Code § 1475 - Death gratuity: death of members
Title 10, United States Code, to provide gold star lapel
on active duty or inactive duty training.
buttons for the next of kin of members of the armed forces
who lost or lose their lives in war or as a result of cold war
incidents. Aug. 11, 1966, P.L. 89-534, § 1 (1), 80 Stat. 345.
Additional Resources
Army Gold Star Survivors at https://www.army.mil/goldstar/
Gold Star Wives, Inc. To incorporate the Gold Star Wives
of America. Dec. 4, 1980, P.L. 96-497, § 14, 94 Stat. 2597.
Marine Corps Gold Star Representative at
https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Agencies/Casualty-MFPC/Long-
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. To recognize the
Term-Assistance-Program/Gold-Star-Representative/
organization known as the American Gold Star Mothers,
Navy Gold Star Program at https://www.navygoldstar.com/
Incorporated. June 12, 1984, P.L. 98-314, 98 Stat, 237.
Air Force Gold Star Program Families Forever at
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Benefits-and-Entitlements/Air-Force-
FY1994, Section 1143. Provides for the award of Gold Star
Families-Forever/
lapel buttons to survivors of military personnel killed by
DOD Instruction 1348.36, Gold Star Lapel Button, Service
terrorist acts. Nov. 30, 1993, P.L. 103-160, div. A, Title XI,
Flag, and Service, December 21, 2016. Available on the DOD
§1143, 107 Stat. 1757.
Issuances Website at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.
Gold Star Mother’s Day Observation. The President is
requested to issue a proclamation calling on United States
Government officials to display the flag of the United
Barbara Salazar Torreon, Senior Research Librarian
States on all government buildings on Gold Star Mother’s
Day. Aug. 12, 1998, P.L. 105-225, § 111, 112 Stat. 1292.
IF11200
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Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
Disclaimer
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