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The Gold Star: An honor no one wants
April 8, 2022 — The phrase “Gold Star Family,” dates back to World War I, when military families displayed service flags featuring a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the Armed Forces. The star’s color would be changed to gold if the family lost a loved one in the war, hence the term, “Gold Star Family.”... MORE

Gold Star survivor becomes Bronze Star recipient
January 27, 2021 — Losing a loved one forever changes someone’s life. For some, it shatters them. For others, it pushes them to better themselves. Master Sgt. Brandon “Hock” Hockenbarger, 959th Medical Operations Squadron Internal Medicine flight chief, is the latter... MORE

A pilot’s pilot: Honoring Capt. Mark “Tyler” Voss and his Gold Star family
October 21, 2020 — On Friday, May 3, 2013, Capt. Mark “Tyler” Voss perished in a plane crash near Chon-Aryk, Kyrgyzstan, while on his sixth deployment, making his family a Gold Star Family who will be honored, along with many other families, annually on the last Sunday of September... MORE

Capt. Mark “Tyler” Voss perished in a plane crash near Chon-Aryk, Kyrgyzstan, while on his sixth deployment.

A Gold Star to remember for 433rd AW member
September 27, 2020 — The last Sunday of September every year is Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day, where the families of service members who died while in the line of duty are honored. On this day, these families are remembered for the losses they suffered. While many choose to honor their losses in different ways, Tech. Sgt. Joseph Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp services supervisor, said he chose to honor his father by serving in the same unit as him... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp services supervisor, visits the grave of his father Sept. 25, 2020, with his family at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Samantha Mathison)

Survivors find easier access to Army installations
March 12, 2020 — Certain Gold Star and next-of-kin survivors are expected to find it easier to visit Army installations since a new process went into effect in January... MORE

Air Force hosts Gold Star and Surviving Family Members summit
May 9, 2019 — The Air Force hosted its first Gold Star and Surviving Family Members Summit at the Air Force Enlisted Village in Shalmar, Florida, April 30. The event, supported by the Air Force Families Forever Program, focused on enduring support for Gold Star and Surviving family members... MORE

Dawn Goldfein, spouse of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. David L. Goldfein, provided opening remarks to surviving family members at the first Air Force Gold Star and Surviving Families Summit, in Shalimar, Florida, April 30, 2019. The event focused on sharing information, listening and advancing support for surviving family members.

Gold Star survivors are part of Air Force family tree
September 28, 2017 — The Air Force family tree has many branches and one branch, representing the service’s Gold Star families, has leaves that glow consistently with the rest. Gold Star families are survivors of military service members who lost their lives during armed hostilities, including deployments in support of military operations against an enemy and/or during an international terrorist attack... MORE

Gold Star families are survivors of military service members who lost their lives during armed hostilities, acts of terrorism and certain deployments. The Air Force’s Gold Star program provides enhanced support and outreach for the lifetime of each survivor.

Commentary: that gold star doesn't represent a person's rank
May 25, 2016 — At the Fort Sam Houston gas station I saw a vehicle with ayoung girl driving to fill up at the pump next to me. I noticed a small flag in the window with two blue stars onit, and assumed that the... MORE