Togetherness Tuesday

Through the generous sponsorship of donors,  AGSM was able to provide an opportunity for 2 members to experience Gold Star Mothers weekend in Washington, DC.  Janet George-Morris was one of the two members selected for this opportunity.  Below is a touching letter she shared with us.

On October 10th, 2017, I became Gold Star Mother because of my son's heroics in Afghanistan and service to this nation.  I was in a car dealership getting my car serviced in Anchorage, Alaska, when I noticed two service personnel walking towards me, dressed in their dress blues. I saw the seriousness and the somber expressions on their faces as they approached me. One kneeled down on one knee and stated those words that no mother or family member would ever want to hear. As you can imagine, to hear those dreaded words, "We regret to inform you that your loved one......is deceased"!!!!
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I cannot explain or express the overwhelming shock, hurt, pain and grief that I immediately felt when those words were uttered to me. Now I'm on a never-ending grief journey and struggle daily.  However, I have learned to fully embrace my status as an American Gold Star Mother with pride, gracefully honoring our Founder Grace Darling Seibold’s commitment to Veterans, my family, friends, community and my dear son and best friend, Warrant Officer 1, Chadrick Demond George.
My son leaves a legacy of looking to help others in any way he could.  Because of AGSM National and my beloved Georgia Chapter, I have been able to be an instrumental part of the American Gold Star Mothers family, not just a named member. The cost of being a part of this organization has a price like no other. The lives of our sons and daughters are not replaceable. I embrace this journey, and I am so grateful and thankful to this organization for the great compassion, grace, love and concern that they have shown towards me and my family.

​On this year, I had the awesome privilege to be in attendance at the American Gold Star Mothers Convention in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While attending the convention, I was able to visit the Garden of the Gods, where my son and I visited when he was stationed at Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hanging on the wall in my home right now is a painting that my hero, "Chadrick" painted of me sitting on the rocks in the Garden of the Gods.

Tears comes to my eyes as I remember both of those days:  the day that I first visited the Garden of the Gods with Chadrick and the day during the Convention when myself and my roommate, fellow Georgia Chapter member, Carolyn Cagle, visited.  Mother Carolyn was just as attentive to my desires to visit the grounds and recreate the correct position for the shots and moments that I shared with my beloved son.  I am so grateful to my Creator. I give Him all of the glory for allowing me to return to those hallowed grounds all because of the American Gold Star Mothers.  Without the American Gold Star Mothers, I'm not sure if that would have ever been accomplished.
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I was able to attend Gold Star Mothers Weekend in our Nation's Capital, Washington, DC.  I submitted an application to receive a scholarship to attend the weekend where my lodging and my flight would be covered with the scholarship. To my surprise, I was one of those chosen to attend and participate in the weekend’s activities and ceremonies. I was grateful and honored to be in the midst of other Gold Star Mothers.

In Louisiana, where I'm from, there's a term that we use "LAGNIAPPE" that means "EXTRA." I'm extra, one who wants to know everything, what's going on, and be fully immersed in any organization, their activities, and services that I'm involved with. My son was the epitome of that term "LAGNIAPPE" also.  To be totally honest and transparent, without the help of the scholarship it would have been very difficult for me to attend the weekend.

Let me share something that I have never shared in public before, but I feel a need to let others know. Never give up or throw in the towel on a dream or a desire. I have limited income. I'm in remission from pancreatic cancer and receive dialysis treatment three times a week.  Funds are limited. Therefore, I was glad that I received the scholarship for my flight to Washington, DC and also my lodging over the weekend at the hotel and the night I spent at the AGSM headquarters.

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It was such a pleasure to room with a new mother that I had never met. We were able to share stories about our heroes, cry, laugh and pray together. But most importantly, we established a bond and connection. We made the best of our time we spent together. We were able to hug and console and encourage each other. We had some ugly crying sessions. But we came out better with a common bond and friendship that others outside of this organization would never understand.

Allow me to share some of the momentous things and activities that's etched in my memory and heart.  I participated in a day of service, mingling with the retirees at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, which was enriching and engaging. We played fun activities, gave out hot cups of coffee, juice, doughnuts, and other snacks. The awesome overstuffed gift bags were a big hit. Playing cornhole and bucket basketball was fun.

But the most important part was listening to the retirees tell their stories, asking about our loved ones and letting them share whatever they desired to with us. I left the retirement facility feeling grateful and beaning with pride. My heart sang because they were happy and joyful.
We were able to visit the gravesite of our Founder, Grace Darling Seibold. That was just an awesome thing to do, to put my feet on the ground where her remains are laid. Mother Seibold was all about service.  That's what I am about. That's why I'm involved with the American Gold Star Mothers.

I would encourage any mother with this title to get involved. You may not be able to attend all of the different states and events. But working in your state, city and community is the principles on which people found it and live by.
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Lastly, as I was waiting on the service to start inside of the amphitheater at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I was sitting in my seat next to another Gold Star Mother when a gentleman approached me.  He got down on one knee. He startled me because that's what happened when I got the news that my son was gone. However, this gentle man took my hands as he told me his name and rank.  Then he smiled a beautiful smile, a big beautiful smile. The gentleman dressed in his dress blues said, “Ma'am, I knew your son.”

I said, “You did???”  He said, “Yes, I was stationed with him overseas.” The gentleman stated, "Warrant Officer Chadrick George was such a leader.  He led with distinction.”  That just warned my heart. It made me smile and made me remember that it's important to always try to live my/our lives in a manner that my/our children, grandchildren, family members and friends are most proud of.

I can truly say since I joined and became an active member of the American Gold Star Mothers, my life's meaning and purpose has become more clearer. For that I am immensely grateful!

Thank you,

Janet George-Morris
Mother Of Warrant Officer 1, Chadrick D. George