What is American Gold Star Mothers?
{{Infobox organization | name = American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. | pronounce = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | named_after = | image = Gold Star Monument.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = A monument at the [[Ocala, Florida]] memorial park that mentions the organization | logo = }} [[File:Gold Star Service Banner.svg|thumb|right|A [[Service flag]] with one gold star]] '''American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.''' (AGSM), is a private<ref name=Criteria/> [[nonprofit organization]].<ref name=Donate/> It is a group of [[Americans|American]] mothers who lost sons or daughters in service of the [[United States Armed Forces]]. It was formed in 1928 for mothers of those lost in [[World War I]]. The organization has a [[congressional charter]] under [[Title 36 of the United States Code|Title 36 § 211 of the United States Code]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2014-title36/html/USCODE-2014-title36.htm |title=Title 36 – Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office]] |access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a [[service flag]] in the windows of their homes. The flag had a star for each family member in the Armed Forces. Living members of the [[military]] were represented by a blue star. Those who died in combat were represented by a gold star. Membership in the organization is open to any woman who is a [[United States|U.S.]] citizen or legal resident. They must have had a child die in active service in the U.S. military. The place or time of the military service does not matter. The circumstances of death do not matter either.Mothers of those [[missing in action]] can be a part of the organization. {{military-stub}} ==References== {{reflist|refs= <ref name=Criteria>{{cite web |title=Membership Criteria |url=http://www.gold