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On Saturday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m., the Lyon County Museum is having a Gold Star Family program in the conference room on the 2nd floor of the building. This program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. In case of inclement weather, we will reschedule for a later date. Deb Ahmann will share stories about her family and Tom's life and service in Vietnam. Deb's brother, Thomas Bradley, was killed in action while serving his country in Vietnam on June 19, 1969.
A Gold Star Family is the immediate family member(s) of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. A Gold Star Service Flag can be displayed by a Gold Star Family. The flag is for service members who were killed or died, while serving in the Armed Forces, from causes other than dishonorable. The number of gold stars on the flag corresponds to with the number of individuals who were killed or died. A gold star is placed over the blue star on a Blue Service Flag so that the blue forms a border and creates the Gold Start Service. The United States Department of Defense also issues Gold Star lapel pins to immediate family members of a fallen service member.
The Blue Service Flag was patented and designed by World War I Army Captain Robert L. Queisser, who at the time, had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. President Woodrow Wilson authorized a suggestion made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses, that mothers who had lost a child who served in the war could wear a traditional black mourning armband with a gold gilt star in 1918. This approval led to a tradition of a gold star covering the blue star on the Service flag to show that the service member had passed. It is believed President Wilson coined the term "Gold Star Mother."
The photograph featured this week is courtesy of Deb Ahmann. The photograph shows Tom Bradley with his parents, Jim and Bernice, outside a motel for BCT graduation in the summer of 1968.