''We Will Never Forget''

Gold Star Mothers Family Monument

To honor the Mothers whose sons and daughters gave their life in the service of our country. This monument is sponsored by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation. For all mothers who know the grief of losing a child in the service of our country, to promote a bond of kinship, and to engage in support for servicemen, the Veterans community, and others who memorialized our nation's defenders.

Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation 84 Westbrook Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057 | 856-235-6918 | 610-328-1557

Gold Star Mothers Family Monument Foundation

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The American Civil War Museum Complex in Gettysburg, PA hosted the Gold Star Mothers New England Regional Monument and sculptor Andrew Chernak for a ceremony honoring our Nation’s Gold Star Mothers

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The loss of a child in any circumstance is a grievous blow to a family, but, uniquely so to the mother who bore that child. One group of Mothers that especially stands apart from the norm are the Gold Star Mothers of America's fallen heroes. They are patriotic, loyal, and sympathetic. They understand our nation’s freedom is not to be taken for granted. The grief and loss these women have endured never leaves them, yet the Mothers rise above their pain in tribute to life going on.

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The Mothers have collectively served millions of hours in volunteer work, personal service in our nation's Veterans hospitals, and to the Veteran and his family in their community. In serving this way, the Mothers have turned their grief into a positive force. If you want to know quiet greatness, spend a little time in the presence of a Gold Star Mother. Andrew L. Chernak

Gold Star Mothers Family Monument<br />Mission Statement follows:

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Gold Star Mothers Family Monument
Mission Statement follows:

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To honor the Mothers whose sons and daughters gave their life in the service of our country. This monument is sponsored by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation. For all mothers who know the grief of losing a child in the service of our country, to promote a bond of kinship, and to engage in support for servicemen, the Veterans community, and others who memorialized our nation’s defenders.

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Posing of the Model: The mother is in a 1940’s period dress. The time of greatest American war casualties. The statue imparts a sense of grief and pain. The flower stand has a picture of her son. In her hand, the dreaded Western Union telegram.

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A small flower pot, on its side, symbolizes her world devastated.

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Gold Star Mothers New England Regional Monument

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Judith Young, GSM (PNP) with Andrew L. Chernak, Sculptor/Designer, Vietnam Veteran

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Ann Y. Sherman Wolcott GSM (PNP) and Terria Chernak

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Dylan Despines of the Gettysburg Detachment Young Marines sings our National Anthem.

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About the Sculptor/Designer Andrew L. Chernak: Born in Philadelphia, he became immersed in our Nations history. Being surrounded by sculpture in and around the city to the battlefields of Gettysburg and south to our Nations capitol. The hallmark of Andrew's work is unapologetic fine detail and accuracy, taking short cuts is not acceptable in any of Andrew's sculptures. Enlisting in the Army in 1968, serving as an Infantryman in Vietnam, awarded the Purple Heart twice, this military experience has given him an edge and sensitivity to achieve detail and accuracy in his works. Having lived history has empowered him to give his works a realism that cannot be obtained by those who haven't truly lived it.

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Invocation give by Chaplain John Wega

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Judith Young, Chairman of the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation, explains to the audience what this statue means to her.

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Bill Trueheart, Chairman New Hampshire and Vermont Gold Star Mothers introducing some of the Gold Star Mothers.

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Daniel R. Gionet was 23, of Pelham, N.H.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed June 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1A2 tank during combat operations in Baghdad.

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Gold Star Mother Susan McColley whose son, Marine Sgt. Jonathan E. McColley, died February 17, 2006 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, New River, N.C.; deployed to Djibouti as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa; when two CH-53 helicopters crashed into the Gulf of Aden in the vicinity of Ras Siyyan, northern Djibouti, while flying a training mission in the Godoria Range area. Also killed were Marine 1st Lt. Brandon R. Dronet, Sgt. James F. Fordyce, Lance Cpl. Samuel W. Large Jr., Sgt. Donnie Leo F. Levens, Cpl. Matthieu Marcellus, Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Sovie and Capt. Bryan D. Willard; and Air Force Senior Airman Alecia S. Good and Staff Sgt. Luis M. Melendez Sanchez.

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John and Susan McColley lost their son Marine Sgt. Jonathan E. McColley on February 17, 2006 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Presentation of The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation's Distinguished Service Medal

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The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation's Distinguished Service Medal for engineering the establishment of the GSM honor plaque was presented to Brenda Einhorn of Rolling Thunder® Inc. NJ Chapter 2.

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Judith Young, GSM (PNP) presented the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation's Distinguished Service Medal for engineering the establishment of the GSM honor plaque to Eagle Scout, Jason Maybach. This was Jason’s main Eagle Scout project.