The 82nd Annual American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. National Convention was held at the Uptown Marriott, Albuquerque, NM June 28 ~ July 1, 2019
Seated L-R: Ginger Emerson, National Secretary; Jo Ann Maitland, National 2nd Vice-President; Mona Gunn, National President; Cindy Tatum, National 1st Vice-President; Pam Stemple, National Service Officer
Standing L-R: Pat O'Kane Trombley, Publications; Sarah Whitledge Taylor, National Sgt-at-Arms; Carol Resh, National Treasurer; Elaine Brattain, National Chaplain; Carla Wicks, National Flag Guard; Teresa Bullock, National Banner Guard
Colorado Gold Star Mothers
Quilts of Valor ~ Sue Reich, President, QOVF BOD sue.reich@qovf.org
Veterans History Project ~ Library Of Congress ~ Director Karen D. Lloyd, Liaison Specialist Kerry Ward 202-707-1196
Headwaters For Heroes ~ Steven Sweeney ~ http://headwatersforheroes.com/
"The Hands That Held The Child" Sculpter Duke Sundt
American Gold Star Mothers Past National Presidents
Gold Star Mother President Becky Christmas with Kevin M. Schmiegel CEO, Operation Gratitude ~ https://www.operationgratitude.com/
Join hundreds of other grateful Americans in your community to assemble or deliver Care Packages for Deployed Troops, Military Families, Veterans, wounded Heroes and Caregivers, First Responders, and Recruit Graduates nationwide.
https://www.operationgratitude.com/
Jo Ann Maitland, National 2nd Vice-President gives her report.
A New Chapter for the Gold Star Mothers in West Phoenix Arizona
“Blues Mothers” Pam Stemple, National Service Officer along with Ginger Emerson, National Secretary.
National President, Mona Gunn gives her Acceptance Speech 2019
Sue Reich, President Quilts of Valor reads remarks before presenting Terry Geiling, Gold Star Mother Manor CEO with his Quilt of Honor.
Terry is then wrapped in his Quilt of Valor.
Display of the fallen heroes of attending Gold Star Mothers
Becky Lulush, Dr. Betty Moseley Brown, Becky Christmas, Tanya McKinney and Sarah Whitledge Taylor.
Sarah Whitledge Taylor, National Sgt-at-Arms
Our National Anthum sung by Tanya McKinney, retired, U.S.A.F. Lt.Col.
Pam Stemple, National Service Officer was acknowledged as a Veteran and thanked for her service to Our Country.
Sarah Whitledge Taylor, National Sgt-at-Arms, presenting the Honor and Remember flag to Lorna and Scott Harris proud parents of SPC Dustin J. Harris "Our Mighty Paratrooper" ~ KIA OIF 4/6/06 Bayji, Iraq
While the Moms were having their meetings the Gold Star Dads and guest went on some site seeing trips, stopping here at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.
At our visit to Veterans Park meet Sculpter Duke Sundt, "The Hands That Held The Child" and Randy Huston who wrote lyrics and song for this beautiful memorial to our Gold Star Mothers.
Brent Woods (1855 – March 31, 1906) was an African American Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal Of Honor for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.
Gold Star Mother Sandra Aceves holding image of her Son, U.S. Navy Corpsman Fernando “Doc” Mendez
Tom McKinney is a prolific watercolorist and portrait artist. He eloquently expresses all facets of life through his portraits--the joys and sorrows, the loves and hates, and the hopes and fears of humanity. He paints with an almost photographic realism. His works reveal that beauty, like truth, is never so glorious as when it's plainest.
McKinney studied at the John Hussian School of Art and the Philadelphia College of Art.
Becky Christmas National President with Mona Gunn 2019-2020 National President American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Vietnam Gold Star Mothers Terry Davis, Ruth Forkum and Georgie Carter Krell
The sons of Becky Christmas and Mona Gunn did our Flag folding cermony.
Our Country's flag is presented to Becky Christmas, then placed onto the table
Mona Gunn National President American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. and her three sons.
Gold Star Mother Sandra Aceves proud Mother of U.S. Navy Corpsman Fernando “Doc” Mendez. KIA 4/6/04
Swearing-in of the 2019-20 AGSM National Executive Board
This folded flag represents the service of our sons who gave their lives for this Country and the flag is being held by different shades of hands that represent the Veterans who have served our Country, the active duty service members who are currently serving and the fallen sons and daughters of our Country.
Every Mom Matters
Every Veteran Matters
The winner of a beautiful quilt was Gold Star Mother Vickie Castro.
On Monday, July 1, 2019 we took a long bus ride to visit one of the first memorials to the Vietnam Veteran at Angel Fire, New Mexico.
Furture site of Angel Fire National Veteran Cemetery.
National President Mona Gunn pins Vietnam Veteran Chuck Hasford (Air Force ~ Marine Vet)
Cindy Tatum, National 1st Vice-President places an American Gold Star Mothers challenge coin.
Vietnam Veteran Wayne Hanson places a challenge coin for Wreaths Across America, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
We finished up our day with a visit to “Horses For Heroes” ~ Cowboy Up! & Wisdom Way For Warriors
Executive director Rick Iannucci gave a tour of the facilities, we are now in the Chapel.
Horses For Heroes - New Mexico, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Cowboy Up! is a unique horsemanship, wellness and Skill-set Restructuring™ program based in Santa Fe, NM free to ALL post 9/11 Veterans and active military (both men and women) especially those who have sustained PTSD, physical injuries, or have experienced combat trauma during their time serving our country. From day one Veterans are hands on with our horses beginning with groundwork and progressing to riding, as well as participating in other aspects of ranch life, including working cattle and more importantly experiencing the camaraderie with cowboys who are Veterans themselves.
Sharing our experience, our strengths, and hopes we give veterans a new and vital mission where they can recuperate, recreate, and reintegrate into their communities. We believe that Horsemanship is Leadership and by assisting veterans through the way of the horse and cowboy culture, we are able to support their journey, integrating mind, body and spirit.
We are staffed entirely by volunteers and are privately funded by your donations. 100% of your contributions goes to keeping our Heroes horseback.
Please Note: We are totally independent of and NOT affiliated with any other 'Horses for Heroes' program, or programs with similar sounding names.
There is no one size fits all PTSD whether you are a man or a woman. Not everyone's personal experience fits neatly in to the traditional definitions of PTSD and many times defies it. We like to call it Post Traumatic SPIRITUAL DISSONANCE™
Rick Iannucci, Executive Director, Horses For Heroes - New Mexico, Inc. 505-798-2535
https://www.horsesforheroes.org/
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