MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
From Our Bylaws: Natural Mothers or adoptive mothers who were citizens or legal residents of the United States or the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States at the time of their sons' or daughters' induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose sons or daughters became missing in action, died while on active duty or died as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Stepmothers who are citizens or legal residents of the United States or the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States who assumed the responsibility of a son or daughter under the age of fifteen years and reared this son or daughter who served and was missing in action, died while on active duty or as a result of such service, are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Gold Star Fathers, Gold Star Siblings, Gold Star Grandparents and Gold Star Stepfathers are eligible to join as Associate Members. They pay no dues, hold no office, and have no vote, but may be appointed as a Deputy to the representative at the VA Medical Center.
How to Join
If you meet the Membership or Associate Membership requirements, we would be happy to have you join us. Just print out the Membership Application or Associate Membership Application ,fill it out, send it in. It is helpful, but not necessary for membership, if you send in a Photo Release with your application. You will need Adobe Reader or a similar program to print the forms.
National membership dues are $40. In addition, some local Chapters and Departments have additional dues which may vary across the country.
Please note, all membership applications must be accompanied by either:
Form DD1300 - Report of Casualty or Form DD2064 - Certificate of Death Overseas
Clarifications:
The term Gold Star Mother refers to any mother who has lost a child in the service of our country.
An American Gold Star Mother is a Gold Star Mother who has joined the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. organization (AGSM).
AGSM is a private organization and can set its own membership rules. Our qualifications for membership have changed over the years. There is currently no requirement that your service member was killed in action or in a particular theater of operation to be a member.
Our Constitution and Bylaws state:
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is an organization of Mothers whose sons and daughters served and died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, or died as a result of such service, or were missing in action.
The DOD makes distinctions in determining which of the Gold Star Pins are awarded based on the manner and place of death, but we do not. All served and all undertook the associated risks.
From Our Bylaws: Natural Mothers or adoptive mothers who were citizens or legal residents of the United States or the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States at the time of their sons' or daughters' induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose sons or daughters became missing in action, died while on active duty or died as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Stepmothers who are citizens or legal residents of the United States or the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States who assumed the responsibility of a son or daughter under the age of fifteen years and reared this son or daughter who served and was missing in action, died while on active duty or as a result of such service, are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Gold Star Fathers, Gold Star Siblings, Gold Star Grandparents and Gold Star Stepfathers are eligible to join as Associate Members. They pay no dues, hold no office, and have no vote, but may be appointed as a Deputy to the representative at the VA Medical Center.
How to Join
If you meet the Membership or Associate Membership requirements, we would be happy to have you join us. Just print out the Membership Application or Associate Membership Application ,fill it out, send it in. It is helpful, but not necessary for membership, if you send in a Photo Release with your application. You will need Adobe Reader or a similar program to print the forms.
National membership dues are $40. In addition, some local Chapters and Departments have additional dues which may vary across the country.
Please note, all membership applications must be accompanied by either:
Form DD1300 - Report of Casualty or Form DD2064 - Certificate of Death Overseas
Clarifications:
The term Gold Star Mother refers to any mother who has lost a child in the service of our country.
An American Gold Star Mother is a Gold Star Mother who has joined the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. organization (AGSM).
AGSM is a private organization and can set its own membership rules. Our qualifications for membership have changed over the years. There is currently no requirement that your service member was killed in action or in a particular theater of operation to be a member.
Our Constitution and Bylaws state:
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is an organization of Mothers whose sons and daughters served and died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, or died as a result of such service, or were missing in action.
The DOD makes distinctions in determining which of the Gold Star Pins are awarded based on the manner and place of death, but we do not. All served and all undertook the associated risks.