Road gets rougher for Gold Star group leader

Philly.com ^ | 8/25/2005 | Edward Colimore

[armymarinemom]

Judith Young knew the new job would be difficult, that she would face challenges as president of the American Gold Star Mothers, a national nonprofit organization of women who lost sons and daughters in war.

But the Moorestown resident had no idea how tough she'd have it.

Part of the difficulty is linked to one mother's antiwar protest outside President Bush's ranch in Texas. Yet even before Young took office in June at the group's convention near Dallas, she found the Gold Star Mothers, a group that eschews politics, embroiled in controversy.

First came the phoned and e-mailed threats and expletives over a 77-year-old charter rule that requires members to be citizens and denied entry to a Filipino woman who lost her son in Afghanistan. The same convention that elected Young president voted unanimously to require instead that new members be legal residents.

Then came countless calls from people - for and against the Iraq war - who wondered whether the American Gold Star Mothers were connected to Gold Star Families for Peace. That is the antiwar group founded by Cindy Sheehan, who lost a son in Iraq and was demonstrating near the ranch of the President, asking that he meet with her.

Young took more angry calls and distanced her organization from Sheehan's to keep the nonprofit status, allowing people to make tax-deductible donations.

This week, the American Gold Star Mothers joined three other national military family groups - Gold Star Wives of America Inc., Sons and Daughters in Touch, and American WWII Orphans Network - voicing concern that the Gold Star symbol is being misused.

"Our loved ones gave their lives to protect the freedom to protest, and we know all too well the pain that these families are now suffering," the four groups said in a joint statement. "However, the Gold Star symbol, authorized by Congress to honor a family's loss in service to our nation, must not be tarnished by partisan political demonstrations."

Young, 65, who lost her Marine son Jeff in 1983 when a truck bomb blew up a military barracks in Beirut, said she's had some "bad times" in the last few months.

"I had someone call me at our Washington headquarters, call me a bitch, and hang up. We were slimeballs, low-lifes," she said. "Another caller threatened to kick me in the butt, and someone else was going to slap me in the face. I said, 'I'll take the slap for all the Gold Star mothers.' "

Young said the pressure has taken its toll on her health, causing her to lose her appetite and her legs to shake at times. But yesterday, she was visiting Gold Star mothers living at the Gold Star Manor, a retirement home in Long Beach, Calif. "I could be living in the number one town in the country - Moorestown," she said with a laugh, referring to Money magazine's recent designation of the township. "But I'm needed by the Gold Star Mothers.

"I guess I'm in the middle - like a mother to the new members who have jobs and children and can't devote the time to the group, and like a daughter to the older members who are in their 80s and can't do as much."

Young, formerly president of the group's New Jersey chapter, said the intensity of the national position caught her off guard. She also said she has felt honored to help lead the Gold Star Mothers - a group no one wants to join. Members attend regular chapter meetings in 27 states, comfort one another, and visit veterans hospitals. They wear a gold star, the symbol of a lost child, over their hearts.

Young also has attended the funerals of troops who died in Iraq and plans to attend 9/11 Patriot Day ceremonies in Peachtree, Ga. The group's next national convention is set for June in Mount Laurel.

In the 1950s and '60s, the American Gold Star Mothers comprised more than 20,000 mothers of troops killed in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Membership dropped below 1,000 by the turn of the century but is edging up again because of Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon. The number in the group now stands at 940.

"The war on terrorism is not something that will go away," said Young, whose presidency is a one-year term. "There is no time frame for the war - and we're always going to be around for the new moms."

[armymarinemom]

Animals!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Is there no one the left will not smear and destroy to accomplish their ends?

Yes, I do know the answer.

[Redbob]

Wonder if they've considered suing Sheehan's mob group over misuse of their name?

[weegee]

From the tone of the article, it sounds like they are implying that the callers were from those who linked her with Cindy Sheehan's movement.

The article does at least seem to put forth that the Gold Star mothers (largely) support the sacrifice that their sons and daughters gave.

[weegee]

The left often hijacks a movement, a symbol, or a phrase.

The communists love "bait and switch". And since Cindy DOES have the backing of communists, I do not have to "watch" my "extremism".

[Coldwater Creek]

Are your boys still active duty? If so do you have your BLUE STAR in the window.??

[Conservative Canuck]

Cindy Sheehan and all of her ilk dishonor their children's commitment and sacrifice. It's tragic to lose a child, even a grown one. But where was she when Casey joined? Where was she when the military was (probably) paying for his education or learning a trade he could use afterwards? Casey was a grown man, one who made his own choice to serve his country. He not only earned his pay, but made the ultimate sacrifice. It is an insult to all in the military (and their families) who made the commitment to serve their country, to protect the security of the United States (and, as we see now, the world).

It's disgusting how she is using his sacrifice to further her own misguided political agenda. This is what people should be outraged about.

She should deal with her grief privately, rather than lashing out at the wrong target. Like most on the Left, she misses the point entirely. She deserves our pity for her inability to deal with her loss privately, but also our derision for her immature and undignified behaviour.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

that the Gold Star symbol is being misused.

 

You bet your sweet bippy that it is. That Cindy S./Code Stinko/MoveOn et al creeps are sullying the good name of a worthy and honorable organization. Nothing would make me happier right now than to see that BS have to cease and desist, and pronto.

 

 

 

[Conservative Canuck]

Cindy Sheehan and all of her ilk dishonor their children's commitment and sacrifice. It's tragic to lose a child, even a grown one. But where was she when Casey joined? Where was she when the military was (probably) paying for his education or learning a trade he could use afterwards? Casey was a grown man, one who made his own choice to serve his country. He not only earned his pay, but made the ultimate sacrifice. It is an insult to all in the military (and their families) who made the commitment to serve their country, to protect the security of the United States (and, as we see now, the world).

It's disgusting how she is using his sacrifice to further her own misguided political agenda. This is what people should be outraged about.

She should deal with her grief privately, rather than lashing out at the wrong target. Like most on the Left, she misses the point entirely. She deserves our pity for her inability to deal with her loss privately, but also our derision for her immature and undignified behaviour.

[Mia T]

THE ROOTS OF CINDY SHEEHAN
(COURTESY JAMES TARANTO VIA RUSH LIMBAUGH)

(viewing movie requires Flash Player 7, available HERE)

 

THE LEFT'S RECKLESS TET-OFFENSIVE-GAMBIT REPLAY:
the left's jihad against America is killing our troops, aiding + abetting the terrorists and imperiling all Americans₂


WHY DID BILL CLINTON IGNORE TERRORISM?
Was it simply the constraints of his liberal mindset, or was it something even more threatening to our national security?


Why hillary clinton should never be allowed anywhere near the Oval Office... or any position of power--THE SERIES
REASON 1: MISSUS CLINTON HIRED JAMIE GORELICK


sandy berger haberdashery feint
(the specs, not the pants or the socks)


BIN LADEN FINGERS CLINTON FOR TERROR SUCCESS (SEE FOOTAGE)
THE THREAT OF TERRORISM IS AS CLOSE AS A CLINTON IS TO THE OVAL OFFICE


"I support the poor but not the war on poverty."


"SONNY" CALLAHAN + BILL CLINTON'S CINDY SHEEHANS


BILL CLINTON'S CINDY SHEEHANS (courtesy Sean Hannity)


THE ROOTS OF CINDY SHEEHAN
(COURTESY JAMES TARANTO VIA RUSH LIMBAUGH)

[WakeUpAndVote]

Did someone say BlueStar?

[Burf]

"Wonder if they've considered suing Sheehan's mob group over misuse of their name?"

I cannot believe that Sheehans bunch using their name that is so much like the Gold Star Mothers (of which my grandmother was one) and legally get away with it. Any lawyers out there with an opinion. I'm sure we could get a few bucks together to straighten out this travesty.

[Coldwater Creek]

Thanks for the great pictures.

Ours is small enough to go in the window.

[DJ MacWoW]

"However, the Gold Star symbol, authorized by Congress to honor a family's loss in service to our nation, must not be tarnished by partisan political demonstrations."

Then how can Sheehans group misuse it? It would seem to me there is some sort of recourse open the them?

[armymarinemom]

Then how can Sheehans group misuse it? It would seem to me there is some sort of recourse open the them?

I don't know about the Gold Star Mothers but I have a hunch that both the BMSA and GSMA have tried to stay out of the political fray. I've never seen rank and file parents so angry before. They have all just about had enough.

[DJ MacWoW]

I don't know about the Gold Star Mothers but I have a hunch that both the BMSA and GSMA have tried to stay out of the political fray. I've never seen rank and file parents so angry before. They have all just about had enough.

Unfortunately, I think their voices are needed. The press has been giving the impression that Sheehan speaks for a lot of parents since only a few have spoken out and/or removed their crosses from the PR stunt.

[armymarinemom]

Unfortunately, I think their voices are needed. The press has been giving the impression that Sheehan speaks for a lot of parents since only a few have spoken out and/or removed their crosses from the PR stunt.

I couldn't agree more. There have been threats about Charters if they do speak up. That is why we are starting up MFVOV. This will allow folks not to speak from their organizations but as family members of our military.

[DJ MacWoW]

Thanks for the link!

[WakeUpAndVote]

Oh, it's in the window now. I flew it outside on the 4th of July weekend.

It takes up the whole window! Oh well!

[Syberyenta]

I'm not a lawyer, but this seems like a clear case of copyright violation.

here's a quote:

Trademark law seeks to proactively prevent consumer confusion, and thus it does not require proof of actual consumer confusion in order for infringement of another company's trademark to occur. All that is necessary is for the trademark owner to be able to prove that a hypothetical, "reasonably prudent" consumer would likely be confused by the use of the same or a similar trademark on potentially competing products. What's more, the hypothetical purchaser is not expected to make detailed, side-by-side comparisons, or to have perfect recall. Infringement is not limited to confusion of consumers as to source, but includes confusion of any kind with respect to consumers or potential consumers. Courts have even found a likelihood of confusion to exist where the public at large could be confused, even though the actual purchasers themselves are not confused (e.g. the outer packaging that gets thrown away contains a large disclaimer, but the product inside is still confusing).