Gold Star Mothers relent.

[pair8head]

DALLAS - A group for mothers whose children died in war voted Monday to allow non-U.S. citizens to join, after coming under criticism for denying membership to a Filipina mother whose son was killed in Afghanistan.

The 1929 charter of American Gold Star Mothers had prevented foreign citizens from joining. Earlier this year, the organization's 12-member executive board voted against changing the rule.

That prevented Ligaya Lagman, of Yonkers, N.Y., from joining, although she is a legal resident and her son, 27-year-old son Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was a U.S. citizen. After hearing about her interest in joining, New York Gov. George Pataki and other lawmakers urged the group to change its rules.

"Quite simply, the loss a mother endures when her son or daughter makes the ultimate sacrifice for our nation — is no less honorable or admirable because of her citizenship status," Pataki said Monday.

The change was approved unanimously Monday during the American Gold Star Mothers' annual convention in the Dallas area.

"This change to our constitution was the right thing to do, but we had to make the change the right way," said Judith Young, the group's new president.

More than 140 military service members who were not U.S. citizens have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Legal residents who are not citizens have long served in the U.S. military.



I think they made the right choice.

[ragtopW]

Ok so a mother who lives in the US. whose son died in The US uniform
can't join????

What a crock.... Yes Don I also think this is a good move

[SchoolGirlHeart]

For once, common sense has prevailed, and a serious wrong has been righted....

[PHAW Webmistress]

For once, common sense has prevailed, and a serious wrong has been righted....

Amen!

[Brown Eyed Girl]

"Quite simply, the loss a mother endures when her son or daughter makes the ultimate sacrifice for our nation — is no less honorable or admirable because of her citizenship status," Pataki said Monday.


More than 140 military service members who were not U.S. citizens have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Legal residents who are not citizens have long served in the U.S. military.

It's about time they figured it out...but better late than never.

[Sam]

In every war or conflict America has been involved, people from other nations have always participated. From the Revolutionary War on....

My guess at the reasoning is that when The Gold Star Mothers was chartered in 1929( As the article states) is that the times and society were different. That does not change the pain of losing a son or a loved one.

I don't think it was meant as an insult or to be a wrong... just about every ethnic group ( Irish, Italian, etc) had their own social clubs or societies.

I do feel it is only RIGHT that any mother from ANY nation, that has a child serving in the U.S. military, killed in combat while in defense of Our Nation and protecting OUR Rights, does belong in the Gold Star Mothers.
Her child earned that entitlement with his or her Supreme Sacrifice.

CONGA-RATS to the Gold Star Mothers for the change.