Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
Updated July 8, 2021
Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
Background
armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged
During the years of U.S. participation in World War I
before July 1, 1958; (2) who lost or lose their lives after
(WWI, 1917-1918), a service banner with a blue star was
June 30, 1958—(A) while engaged in an action against an
flown by some families to represent each family member in
enemy of the United States; (B) while engaged in military
military service. The white field, edged with red, holds up
operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign
to five stars. See Figure 1. A practice developed that when
force; or (C) while serving with friendly foreign forces
a servicemember was killed or died the blue star would be
engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is
replaced with a gold one. The Department of Defense
not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force; or
(DOD) policy regarding display of the gold star on the
(3) who lost or lose their lives after March 28, 1973, as a
Service Flag is contained in DOD Instruction ((DODI)
result of—(A) an international terrorist attack against the
1348.36, Gold Star Lapel Button, Service Flag, and
United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United
Service. The policy remains essentially unchanged, stating:
States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of
“If the Service member symbolized is killed or dies from
Defense; or (B) military operations while serving outside
causes other than dishonorable, the star representing that
the United States (including the commonwealths, territories,
individual will have a gold star of smaller size
and possessions of the United States) as part of a
superimposed on it, so that the blue forms a border.”
peacekeeping force.”
Figure 1. Blue and Gold Star Service Banners (Flags)
Under 10 U.S.C. §1126(d)(1), “The term “next of kin”
means individuals standing in such relationship to members
of the armed forces described in subsection (a) as the
Secretaries concerned shall jointly specify in regulations for
purposes of this section.” See DODI 1348.36 in section 3.2.
Families of servicemembers who died in circumstances
other than those listed above may not be eligible for the
Gold Star Lapel Button. However, they may be eligible to
display a gold star on the Service Flag and may qualify for
the Next of Kin Lapel Button. See DODI 1348.36 in
sections 3.1- 3.3.
Source: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Programs at
Next of Kin Lapel Button
http://vfwauxiliaryprograms.blogspot.com/2014/12/americanism-what-
Approved in 1973, the Next of Kin Lapel Button (also
do-gold-star-blue-star.html.
referred to as the Next of Kin Pin) is provided to the
In a separate but related practice, President Woodrow
families of servicemembers who lost their lives while
Wilson approved a recommendation in May 1918 made by
serving on active duty or while serving in a drill status as a
the Women’s Committee of the Council for National
member of the National Guard or Reserves in circumstance
Defense that American women should wear a black band on
other than KIA. The Next of Kin Lapel Button is gold, with
the upper left arm, affixed with a gold star to signify the
a star within a circle of sprigs of oak. According to A
loss of a family member during the war. President Wilson
Survivor’s Guide to Benefits by DOD, “The star within the
described such women as “Gold Star Mothers” in his letter
circle commemorates honorable service and the sprigs of
to the Council.
oak refer to the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.”
In October 1942, Congress passed Public Law 77-750 that
Figure 2. Gold Star Lapel Button (left) and Next of Kin
authorized the Secretary of War to approve a standard
Lapel Button (right)
design for a service flag and a service lapel button.
Gold Star Lapel Button (GSLB)
The GSLB (also called the Gold Star Pin) was created in
1947, P.L. 80-306, as a means of identification for parents
and widows of servicemembers who lost their lives in the
U.S. armed services in WWII. The GSLB is a gold star on a
field of purple surrounded by laurel leaves. See Figure 2.
Under 10 U.S.C. §1126(a), “A lapel button, to be known as
Source: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) at
the gold star lapel button, shall be designed, as approved by
https://www.taps.org/articles/15-2/goldstarpins and DODI
the Secretary of Defense, to identify next of kin of members
1348.36 in Section 3: Gold Star Lapel Button.
of the armed forces—(1) who lost their lives during World
War I, World War II, or during any subsequent period of
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
Military Death Benefits
Gold Star Mother’s Day Observation. The President is
After the death of a servicemember on active duty, a
requested to issue a proclamation calling on United States
casualty assistance officer is assigned by the respective
Government officials to display the flag of the United
military department to assist any surviving spouse,
States on all government buildings on Gold Star Mother’s
child(ren), or other designated beneficiaries, with all
Day. Aug. 12, 1998, P.L. 105-225, § 111, 112 Stat. 1292.
eligible benefits and entitlements. These generally include:
NDAA for FY2006, Section 562. Policy and Procedures on
$100,000 tax-exempt, lump sum, DOD death gratuity
Casualty Assistance to Survivors of Military Decedents.
paid to designated beneficiaries.
P.L. 109-163, div. A, Title V, §562, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat.
3267, as amended by P.L. 109-364, div. A, Title V, §566,
Burial assistance including the disposition of remains
Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2223.
and travel to the burial site for the servicemember’s
immediate family.
NDAA for FY2013, Section 2859. Establishment of a
Any unpaid pay and allowances at the time of death.
national monument to Gold Star Mothers in Washington,
DC. Jan. 3, 2013, P.L. 112-239, 126 Stat. 2164.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) [for up to a year.
Access to commissaries and exchanges.
NDAA for FY2014, Section 633. Improved assistance for
Gold Star spouses and other dependents. Requires each
TRICARE medical benefits.
secretary of a military department to designate a specific
Up to $400,000 non-taxable Servicemembers’ Group
member to assist spouses and dependents of
Life Insurance (SGLI) payment.
servicemembers, including Reserve Components, who die
One or more survivor benefit annuities (DOD Survivor
on active duty. Dec. 26, 2013, P.L. 113-66, 127 Stat. 693.
Benefit Plan, Social Security and/or the Department of
Gold Star Fathers Act of 2015 (Derived Veterans’
Veterans Affairs Dependency and Indemnity
Preference for Parents). To amend chapter 21 of Title 5,
Compensation).
United States Code, to provide that fathers of certain
Each benefit described above has unique eligibility criteria.
permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be
Survivors may, or may not, qualify for a given benefit
included with mothers of such veterans as preference
based on their unique circumstances. For details on who
eligibles for treatment in the civil service. Oct. 7, 2015, P.L.
qualifies for a given benefit, see DOD’s A Survivor’s Guide
114-62, 129 Stat 547.
to Benefits; VA Benefits for Veterans’ Spouses,
Gold Star Families Voices Act. Amends the Veterans'
Dependents, and Survivors site; and CRS Report R45325,
Oral History Project Act to allow the collection of video
Military Survivor Benefit Plan: Background and Issues for
and audio recordings of biographical histories by immediate
Congress.
family members of servicemembers who died as a result of
Selected Legislation
their service during a period of war. Nov. 28, 2016, P.L.
Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage. An Act to
114-246, 130 Stat. 995.
enable the mothers and widows of deceased American
NDAA for FY2020, Section 581. Updates GSLB policy to
servicemembers interred in European cemeteries to make a
expand eligibility to include stepsibling(s) and replacement
pilgrimage to these cemeteries. Mar. 2, 1929, Public Law
of gold star lapel buttons without cost. Dec. 20, 2019, P.L.
70-952, 45 Stat. 1508.
116-92, 133 Stat. 1198.
Gold Star Mother’s Day. Designating the last Sunday in
September as “Gold Star Mother's Day,” and for other
NDAA for FY2021, Sections 624 and 625. Sec. 624
purposes. June 23, 1936, Pub. Res. 123, 49 Stat. 1895.
expands assistance for Gold Star spouses and other
Service Flag and Lapel Button. Authorized the Secretary
dependents. Sec. 625, the Gold Star Families Parks Pass,
of War to approve a standard design for a service flag and a
allows free access to National Parks and Federal
lapel button. P.L. 77-750, Oct. 19, 1942, 56 Stat 796.
Recreational Lands to qualifying family members. Jan. 1,
2021, P.L. 116-283, 134 Stat. 3388. See also CRS Report
Gold Star Lapel Button. To provide appropriate lapel
R46810, FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act:
buttons for widows, parents, and next of kin of members of
Selected Personnel and Health Care Issues, on reports
the armed forces who lost their lives in the U.S. armed
required in sections 629 and 629A of the FY2021 NDAA in
services. Aug. 1, 1947, P.L. 80-306, 61 Stat. 710.
the part on “Defense Exchange and Commissary Stores.”
Gold Star Lapel Button and the Cold War. To amend
Title 10, United States Code, to provide gold star lapel
buttons for the next of kin of members of the armed forces
Relevant Statutes
who lost or lose their lives in war or as a result of cold war
Title 10 U.S. Code, § 1126 - Gold star lapel button: eligibility
incidents. Aug. 11, 1966, P.L. 89-534, § 1 (1), 80 Stat. 345.
and distribution.
Gold Star Wives, Inc. To incorporate the Gold Star Wives
Title 10 U.S. Code § 1475 - Death gratuity: death of members
of America. Dec. 4, 1980, P.L. 96-497, § 14, 94 Stat. 2597.
on active duty or inactive duty training.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. To recognize the
Title 36 U.S. Code Ch. 211 - American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
organization known as the American Gold Star Mothers,
Incorporated. June 12, 1984, P.L. 98-314, 98 Stat, 237.
Title 36 U.S. Code Ch. 805 – Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for
FY1994, Section 1143. Provides for the award of Gold Star
lapel buttons to survivors of military personnel killed by
Barbara Salazar Torreon, Senior Research Librarian
terrorist acts. Nov. 30, 1993, P.L. 103-160, 107 Stat. 1757.
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Defense Primer: Gold Star Designation
IF11200
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