A Brother's Words; A Sister's Thoughts by Cindy Campbell

August 22, 2000 - Email from Chris: "I am re-enlisting in November for 3 years, but I have been searching the net for firefighter positions. I someday would like to land a federal job doing something of that magnitude. It just feels so nice being so close to freedom!! I could actually grow long hair again before it falls out!! Not that I do this job for the money, but after this cruise and experiencing "different" and new things, I have realized that I don't want to continue doing this for an extended amount of time. I would like to enjoy life and not put myself in "harms" way so much. I'll be honest with you. I never hesitated at any moment, but the human deep down inside of this shell was scared a few times and understood how life is nothing but a flash!!" --------------- Over the years I've heard many people say "I wish I could've met your brother". My typical response is "you have". There are heroes among us, if we c...

On June 24, 1928 twenty-five mothers met in Washington DC. What was the purpose of this meeting? Each of these moms had individual stories of their journey through motherhood, yet it was a united reason that brought them together to make this trip. They were seeking a federal charter from Congress to recognize the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. It took eight, long years but on June 23, 1936, the 74th Congress published a resolution designating the last Sunday of September as Gold Star Mother's Day . In 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, "There is nothing adequate which anyone in any place can say to those who are entitled to display the Gold Star in their windows. America lives in freedom because of the sacrifices of America's finest citizens and of the mothers [fathers] who raised them." Today, seventy-seven years after this statement was made, this sentiment remains true. I do not know what it is like to suffer the loss of a child. If you are a Gold Star...