As a psychologist who worked with veterans and their families, I want to pay tribute to all who served and to the families of those who served and didn't return home. My book All the Broken Angels honors them on a special day.
The tradition of gold and blue star flags started in World War I when families paid tribute to service members by hanging a blue star flag/banner in their windows. A gold star replaced the blue one if a service member lost his or her life. These flags were prominent during WW II, but public opinion about war changed during the Korean and Vietnam War eras.
In All the Broken Angels, Rosie, whose son Albie is serving in Vietnam, finds a blue star flag from WW II and hangs it in the window to honor her son. This causes conflict with a neighbor and brings Rosie to tears. The country is divided over this controversial war.
In terms of Gold Star families, the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington,
D. C. lists more than 58,000 names of members of the U.S. armed forces who were killed or missing in action. Of those who lost their lives, eight of these were women.
On September 29th, may we honor Gold Star families, not only from the Vietnam War but from all our wars.
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