1Designating September 29, 2013, as "Gold Star Mother's Day" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Americans pay richly deserved tribute to those
4selfless individuals who have helped to secure the enduring
5blessings of peace and freedom; and

6WHEREAS, Memorial Day and Veterans Day are designated to
7honor the sacrifices of Americans who have served in the United
8States Armed Forces, to celebrate those who have served and to
9carry on the values of duty, honor and civic responsibility
10Americans hold as a nation; and

11WHEREAS, Gold Star Mother's Day is intended to honor women
12who deserve special recognition and gratitude for the tremendous
13personal losses they have endured on behalf of our country; and

14WHEREAS, During the early days of World War I, a Blue Star
15was used to represent each soldier in the military service of
16the United States; and

1WHEREAS, As the war progressed and soldiers were killed or
2wounded in combat or died from wounds or disease, a Gold Star
3was superimposed over the Blue Star to reflect the loss of these
4national heroes; and

5WHEREAS, This tradition recognized soldiers for their
6ultimate sacrifice to our country; and

7WHEREAS, The Gold Star offered families an outward symbol by
8which to honor and remember the loss of a loved one; and

9WHEREAS, In 1928, the Gold Star tradition was formalized in
10Washington, D.C., by a group of mothers who had lost sons and
11daughters in service to their country and met to form the
12American Gold Star Mothers organization -- a nondenominational,
13nonprofit and nonpolitical organization; and

14WHEREAS, In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized
15Gold Star Mothers for their strength and inspiration to this
16country; and

17WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Gold Star Mothers, whose sons and
18daughters have died in defense of the ideals of individual
19liberty, should be honored and offered our deepest and abiding
20respect and gratitude; and

21WHEREAS, The sons and daughters of Pennsylvania's Gold Star
22Mothers have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during
23World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and in places such
24as Afghanistan and Iraq; and

25WHEREAS, This nation remembers these young men and women with
26pride and deepest appreciation; and

27WHEREAS, In recognition of the courage of Gold Star Mothers,
28Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49
29Stat. 1895), designated the last Sunday in September as "Gold
30Star Mother's Day," which resolved authorizing and requesting

1that the President issue a proclamation in observance of this
2day; therefore be it

3RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize September 29, 2013, as
4"Gold Star Mother's Day" in Pennsylvania and honor
5Pennsylvania's Gold Star Mothers for their great courage,
6sacrifices and strength.