Many American military families are upset their friends and family members don’t know what Gold Stars represent in the military.
Most people know what a Blue Star banner hanging inside the window of a home means.
It means their soldier is deployed.
The Gold Stars are the ones that are not seen as often.
A Gold star banner or a Gold Star pin, means a soldier has made the ultimate sacrifice.
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Oklahoma families now have them, including two local families, who now wear the Gold Stars, are disapointed more people do not know about them but admit they did not know what Gold Stars were either.
“I honestly, didn’t know what the Gold Star was before I received one,” said Jane Horton. Horton lost her husband, Oklahoma National Guard Spc. Christopher Horton on September 9th, 2011. He was killed in Afgansistan’s Paktia Province. He was part of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Jane Horton quickly learned what they meant.
“When I received it I almost didn't want to wear it for a long time,” said Horton. “Because I thought I would walk out in public and everyone would be overwhelmed. They would see it and see me as an open wound and my husband was just killed.”
The Gold Stars were created after World War II. A fallen soldier's immediate family members receive them.
Another widow, Tiffany Owen, the wife of fallen Oklahoma National Guard solider, Staff Sgt. Kirk Owen also did not know what the Gold Star represented and neither did her two daughters. Kirk Owen was killed on August 2, 2011.
Recently a group of children came by their home selling things for a school fundraiser and a little girl surprised Mrs. Owen.
“One of the little boys looked up and said what does that mean- in your window?” said Mrs. Owen. “The little girl spoke up and said that's a Gold Star. I was about to say something, then the little girl spoke up and said the Blue Star means they have a soldier who is deployed and a Gold Star means they aren't coming home, and she looked up at me and said ‘Right?’ And I said, ‘Right.’”
It was the only time in six months since her husband’s death that someone new what the Gold Star meant. For these two families that is not enough.
“It's because my dad was willing to step up and serve his country, and lay his life down,” said Kirk Owen’s older daughter, Kylie Owen. “That's why we get these. It's a way of showing that my dad was proud of this country. We can walk around and show people without having to tell them that - without using our words.”
