Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, 2024

( printed page 80355) Proclamation 10818 of September 27, 2024 Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, 2024 A Proclamation On this solemn day, we honor the memories of the patriots who served our Nation, defended our freedom, and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We hold close to our hearts the Gold Star mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons, and other loved ones, who grieve their loss and carry on their legacy. And we recommit to fulfilling our sacred obligation to care for all of our Gold Star families. Each of our service members is a link in the chain of honor that stretches back to the founding days of our Nation. They are bound not just by their bravery but also by their commitment to an idea unlike any other in human history: the idea of the United States of America. Decade after decade, our service members have fought for our freedom and the freedom of others because they knew that freedom has never been guaranteed. And just as our fallen heroes have kept the ultimate faith in our country and our democracy, we must keep faith in them. To everyone who has loved and lost someone in the service of our country and to everyone with a loved one still missing or unaccounted for, I know how hard these days of remembrance can be. No matter how much time has passed or how much pride you have in their legacy, the grief and the hurt never fully go away. The First Lady and I are keeping all Gold Star families in our prayers. Since I took office, I have signed over 30 bipartisan laws supporting service members and veterans as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors. And I will continue to do everything I can to support our Gold Star families, to whom our Nation owes a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay. Today, we join Gold Star families in their grief and express our gratitude: gratitude to our fallen heroes, gratitude for the sacrifices of the families left behind, and gratitude to the brave souls who …