Reps. Kim, Waltz, Introduce Bill to Allow for
Monument to Honor Gold Star Families

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-06) introduced the bipartisan Gold Star Mothers Family Monument Extension Act of 2021, which extends the authorization for the establishment of a commemorative work in honor of the Gold Star Families, which was expired in January 2020 and is now on hold. Senator Booker will introduce companion legislation in the Senate in the coming days.

The bill is introduced on Gold Star Spouses Day, a day to honor the sacrifices of widows and widowers who have lost a loved one in service to their country.

“I’ve had the honor of meeting with Gold Star families from New Jersey and across our country. Their stories and their sacrifice should never be forgotten, and this bill will give them the time to ensure that,” said Congressman Kim. “I want to thank Congressman Waltz for working alongside me to move this forward in a bipartisan way. Honoring our veterans and military families should never be a place where partisanship gets in the way of progress, and I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to get this bill passed.”

“The families of our servicemembers nervously wait for their loved one’s safe return from deployments,” said Congressman Waltz. “Unfortunately, for some, the knock on their door instead initiates them into a fraternity no family wants to join, the Gold Star family. I am proud to support this legislation to help establish a monument to honor these families who, as Lincoln said, “have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”

For over a century, the Gold Star tradition has reminded our nation of the sacrifices made by servicemembers and their families. The tradition goes back to World War I, where flags were displayed bearing a Blue Star representing a family member serving abroad, and a Gold Star for a family member who had been lost in combat.

The monument will be entirely sponsored by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation and will be built at no cost to the taxpayer. Once completed, it will be located in Washington, D.C.