Ahead of Sept. 27’s Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, Gold Star father Tony Ruiz says the designation should follow federal eligibility rules. He notes that the Defense Department has a separate emblem for qualifying military deaths that do not meet Gold Star criteria.
Ruiz traces the tradition to World War I, when a blue star on a service flag represented a family member serving and a gold star replaced it after a death. He says Congress later established eligibility for the Gold Star Lapel Button, while the Defense Department recognizes a separate button for next of kin of active-duty and qualifying reserve personnel whose deaths do not meet Gold Star criteria. The early tradition did not use today’s precise eligibility rules.
Ruiz argues that Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments should be described in keeping with the government’s distinct designations. He says he does not speak for the Woody Williams Foundation or claim Williams shared his view. Ruiz identifies himself as the father of Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Oct. 25, 2012.
