Military and Family Support Center GOLD STAR PROGRAM

The Gold Star Program (GSP) is to assist Gold Star Families - those whose military members have died while on active duty.

Gold Star Program:

The term “Gold Star Family” traces back over a century to World War I, when families displayed service flags with blue stars for deployed family members. When someone died in service, families replaced the blue star with gold. This simple tradition evolved into a comprehensive system of federal recognition and support.

The Gold Star Program (GSP) is the  Navy's official program for providing long-term support to surviving families of sailors who died while on active duty.

Today, Gold Star Families receive extensive benefits and services from the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and numerous nonprofit organizations. The support network includes immediate financial assistance, long-term income programs, healthcare coverage, education benefits, and emotional support services. 

Personnel eligible to participate in the GSP include the widow, parents and the next of kin.  The term "widow" includes widower; the term "parents" includes mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco parentis; the term "next of kin" only includes children, brothers, sisters, half-brothers, and half-sisters; and the term "children" includes stepchildren and children through adoption.
 

The program provides support for family members through a very difficult time, helping them build resilience and establish a new normal.  Gold Star families will be able to connect with support groups and grief counselors.  Annual recognition events are held during the months of April, September, and December. Gold Star families participate in other ongoing holiday events during other months.
 

The Gold Star Program (GSP) will provide Gold Star Families a level of long-term assistance and support not previously available through the Navy.  It is enhanced with the active participation of new GS region and installation coordinators, which are the lead agents for actions within the long-term casualty supporting process.
 

Button and Pin:

The GSLB goes to next of kin when service members die during:

• Designated periods of armed hostilities
• Actions against U.S. enemies
• Military operations involving foreign force conflict
• Service with friendly foreign forces in armed conflict
• International terrorist attacks
• Military peacekeeping operations outside the U.S.

Next Of Kin Includes:

• Eligible next of kin includes widows/widowers (whether remarried or not), parents (including step, adoptive, and foster parents), children (including step and adopted), and siblings (including half and step-siblings). A September 2020 policy update added step-siblings, reflecting modern blended families.
• Families typically receive the button from their Casualty Assistance Officer before funeral services. Those who never received one or need replacements can submit DD Form 3 to the appropriate service casualty office.

Next of Kin Lapel Button:

• The Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel Lapel Button (NKLB) honors families of service members who died in service but outside hostile circumstances.
• Approved in 1973 and retroactive to March 29, 1973, the NKLB covers deaths during training, vehicle accidents, illness, or other non-combat situations. The button features a gold star within a gold circle surrounded by oak sprigs representing the Armed Forces branches.

Official Recognition Days:

The nation formally honors these families twice each year.

Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day occurs on the last Sunday in September. President Franklin Roosevelt signed a congressional resolution in 1936 designating this day for Gold Star Mothers. President Barack Obama expanded recognition in 2011 to include all immediate family members.

Gold Star Spouses Day on April 5 specifically honors surviving spouses of fallen service members.

Additional Recognition Months Include:

“Gold Star Awareness” Month is in May of each year.

 “Wreaths of America” Month is in December of each year.

Military and Family Support Center (MFSC) Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) Gold Star Program Liaison is the primary point of contact for program related support for information, referral and resources.  Contact number is 808-474-1999.