Bill Text: NJ AR161 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President and Congress to enact H.R.1980, authorizing construction of Gold Star Mothers National Monument.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR161 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR161-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JACK CONNERS
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Urges President and Congress to enact H.R.1980, authorizing construction of Gold Star Mothers National Monument.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the President and Congress to enact H.R.1980, authorizing the construction of a Gold Star Mothers National Monument.
Whereas, The heroic men and women of America's Armed Forces routinely risk their lives, and many make the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us may live in freedom and security; and
Whereas, A soldier's death causes unthinkable grief for many friends and family members, none more seriously than for the soldier's own mother; and
Whereas, The heartache of the loss of a son or daughter in the service of our nation is something no mother should ever have to know; and
Whereas, After receiving notice of her son's death in World War I, Grace Darling Seibold devoted her energy to volunteering in a local hospital and reaching out to other mothers whose sons had died in military service; and
Whereas, After years of planning, Seibold and 25 other mothers of fallen soldiers met on June 4, 1928, to establish a national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., named after the gold star service flag that families hung in their windows in honor of family members who had died in military service; and
Whereas, Gold Star Mothers regularly aid wounded troops and other veterans through volunteer work at V.A. hospitals, assist in the presentation of claims to the Veterans Administration, and otherwise help to console those adversely effected by misfortunes occurring during military service; and
Whereas, Currently, American Gold Star Mothers consists of approximately 200 chapters across the United States, including chapters in New Jersey in Burlington, Camden, Bayshore, Trenton, Paterson, and Irvington; and
Whereas, Since the organization's founding, many memorials to these mothers have been constructed throughout the country, including locations in Wrightstown, Atco, and Union City; and
Whereas, Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation, affiliated with American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., at present seeks to establish a permanent monument in the Washington, D.C. area as a part of the National Park System, an action requiring no federal funding given the organization's willingness to raise finances privately, largely through the tireless efforts of its Chairman, Judith Young, who is from New Jersey; and
Whereas, Given the much-deserved gratitude felt nationwide for the sacrifices of these mothers, and to ensure that their tremendous courage never be forgotten, it is fitting for this House to urge Congress to set aside a piece of federal land for use as a national monument in their honor; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly urges the President and United States Congress to enact H.R.1980, "The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Act of 2011," bipartisan legislation to honor the immense sacrifices of mothers who lost a child in service to our nation.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the President and United States Congress to enact H.R.1980, "The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Act of 2011."
The bipartisan legislation, now pending in the U.S. Congress, would authorize the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation to build a monument on federal lands in the Washington, D.C. area in honor of the sacrifice made by the mothers of fallen soldiers. Many of our heroic armed forces members ultimately give their lives so that the rest of us may live in freedom and security. The monument supported by this resolution will serve to perpetually honor the immense personal sacrifices given by the families of these brave soldiers.
After learning of her son's death in World War I, Grace Darling Seibold devoted her energy to volunteering and reaching out to other mothers whose sons had died in military service, spurring the growth of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. More than 80 years later, American Gold Star Mothers now involves about 200 chapters across the United States, including at least six in New Jersey.
The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation seeks to establish a permanent monument in the Washington, D.C. area. This will require no federal funding given the organization's willingness to raise finances privately, largely through the tireless efforts of its Chairman, Judith Young, who is from New Jersey. To ensure that the courage and sacrifice of these extraordinary women never be forgotten, it is fitting for Congress to set aside a piece of federal land for use as a national monument in their honor.
