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WHEREAS, on Monday, May 29, 2023, our nation will join together to honor the fallen heroes of our Armed Forces on the 155th Anniversary of Memorial Day; and,
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WHEREAS, in 1868, Major John A Logan called for a nationwide day of remembrance to honor Civil War fallen military personnel, known as Decoration Day. After World War I, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, and was designated Memorial Day by Congress in 1967; and,
WHEREAS, during World War I, families honored their service members by displaying flags and banners depicted as a white field, a red border and a Blue Star within the white field for each family member serving in the Armed Forces. President Wilson approved the wearing of a black armband with a gold gilt star and that approval led to the Gold Star covering the Blue Star on service flags and banners as the highest honor; and,
WHEREAS, two congressionally chartered organizations formed from the Gold Star honor: American Gold Star Mothers founded by Grace Darling Seibold and Gold Star Wives of America Inc. founded by four young WWII widows. A week, later First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt joined as a Gold Star survivor when the President died. Today, these organizations continue to honor our fallen heroes by fighting for improved benefits for Veterans as well as for Gold Star Families; and,
WHEREAS, the title of Gold Star Family honors the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging the family’s grief and continued healing. We must never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedoms and we should express our gratitude to the Gold Star Families of our fallen hero warriors. In doing so, we honor all those who have died for the United States; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby ask that all city residents pause to remember and honor all fallen American military service members for their ultimate sacrifice and acknowledge their family’s significant loss during this holiday weekend; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Monday, May 29, 2023 to be “Gold Star Family Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.