Courtesy Photo Christopher Smith poses with a camel while serving in Iraq for the U.S. Army in this undated photo provided by his family. Smith perished in a car wreck while serving overseas and received a Bronze Star.

This coming Sunday, Gold Star mothers and families will partake in their annual recognition of losing a daughter or son who served in the military.

In Michigan, formal public ceremonies traditionally occur at Traverse City’s Veterans Memorial Park, Clinton Township’s Civic Center Park, and Bay City’s Battery Park.

In addition, a number of veteran organizations across the state conduct ceremonies.

AMERICAN GOLD STAR MOTHERS HISTORY

The founder of American Gold Star Mothers is recognized as Grace Darling Seibold. Her father was Edward Whitaker, who served during America’s Civil War as Gen. George Custer’s chief of staff.

In 1893, she married George Seibold. They had two sons, George Jr. and Louis. In 1917, George decided to become a combat aviator during World War I. At the time, America did not have an air force. Thus, he went to Canada to learn to fly British aircraft. Following that training, he entered the war flying for the British Royal Flying Corps.

During his tour, his mother began serving hospitalized injured military personnel.

When her son’s correspondence ceased arriving, she anticipated the worst, in that George was under British military control and information was difficult to obtain.

In late 1918, George’s mother and his wife received a box labeled “1st Lt. George Vaugh Seibold’s personal effects.” A subsequent British communication confirmed his death in August 1918 in French air space.

Through Grace’s persistence in May 1918, President Woodrow Wilson’s administration approved an armband with a prominent gold star for each military member who perished while serving. Mothers wore the cloth wrapping on their left arm.

Gold Star flags and banners were also incorporated.

On June 4, 1928, in Washington, D.C., George’s mother, along with 25 other mothers who also lost a child serving in the military, founded American Gold Star Mothers.

In 1936, Congress passed a resolution declaring the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day.

In 2011, President Barack Obama’s administration declared the day as Gold Star Mothers and Family Day.

While recognizing thousands of servicemen and servicewomen, perhaps the most dramatic Gold Star recognition was during World War II, when Aletta Sullivan lost her five sons onboard the U.S.S. Juneau, which was torpedoed during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

In 1948, the U.S. Postal Service issued a Gold Star Mothers commemorative stamp.

Founded in 1960 in Long Beach, California, the American Gold Star Manor retirement community offers housing and recreational, socialization, and supportive services.

According to Laura De Roo, an American Gold Star Mother and Michigan chapter president who formerly resided in Paw Paw, the national organization has more than 1,000 members, with nearly two dozen registered in Michigan.

“In Michigan, only two are associated with the Vietnam War, while the remaining are either from more recent engagements or died while on active duty,” she said.

Across the U.S. and its territories are a number of dedicated Gold Star statues and monuments.

In Michigan, three are located in Bay City, Clinton Township, and Traverse City. De Roo commented that a campaign is underway to raise funds for a Gold Star memorial to be situated in Paw Paw.

The national organization also offers associate and honorary memberships.

A FAMILY GRIEVES

Donna and her husband, Glenn Smith, reside in Rogers City. He is lead pastor at Sunrise Christian Church on Linden Street. Together, they have ministered and participated in public education in Michigan and Florida.

They are parents to two sons, Phillip and Christopher. Christopher was the oldest of the siblings, and both served in the U.S. Army.

Christopher was a physically striking man, at six feet, four inches tall.

He received a soccer scholarship and attended Battle Creek’s Kellogg Community College in pursuit of a sports medicine career.

In 2001, while residing in Colorado, Christopher informed his parents he enlisted in the Army.

After basic training, he continued his training at Georgia’s 82nd Airborne Command. Subsequently, he transferred to the Third Calvary, specializing in ground and artillery operations.

In 2005, Christopher married Bobbi Jo, of Wheeling, West Virginia. His wife was pursuing undergraduate and advanced degrees. In 2007, they had a son, Adler.

At the time of his second Iraq tour, the family was residing in Colorado Springs. Christopher had risen ranks to a staff sergeant, responsible for a significant number of soldiers.

During that time, Donna was active with the Blue Star Mothers of America local program, which supported active-duty personnel. Along with other military mothers, they supplied their daughters and sons with a variety of goods and necessities. Most memorable was their overseas shipments of more than 430 pillows and linen cases, batteries for flashlights, and handmade slippers. One of the slipper sets was made to fit size 15 feet.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

At that time, Donna and Glenn resided in Bad Axe, where he ministered at a local church.

Christopher was stationed in Iraq.

Their son, Phillip, along with Bobbi Jo and Christopher’s son, Adler, were able to join them in Bad Axe during the Christmas holiday.

Prior to Christmas Day, a number of telephone calls from Christopher were exchanged. On Christmas Eve, one call was with his wife, who briefly conversed with him. She asked him to call back later, after she and Donna completed a shopping excursion.

A return telephone call never occurred.

That evening, Glenn offered a Christmas Eve service to his congregation. The family returned home to enjoy a meal and festivities.

A knock occurred at their sliding door, where Glenn was greeted by an Army officer, a police officer, and member of the clergy.

Christopher and two other soldiers perished in a freak accident in which their armored Humvee slid off a rain-soaked roadway into a nearby canal.

Christopher’s body arrived at Dover Air Force Base and then was flown to MBS International Airport in Freeland.

POSTSCRIPT

Christopher had requested he be interred in a Fennville cemetery, next to his grandparents. He was awarded a Bronze Star.

Both parents commented about all the positive care and concern they received from family members, friends, their congregation, Army representatives, and fellow Blue and Gold Star mothers and their families.

In the years to follow, Chrispher’s father was encouraged to direct his thoughts and feelings on grief to pen. Glenn wrote an entire book, “Silent Nights — Finding Hope in Darkness.”

He commented, “For the better part of 10 months, I was on a whirlwind book and speaking tour, which took me across the country and … as far as the Philippines. My focus was, no matter what type of grief one is facing, you can overcome the challenges in a positive fashion and move forward with your life.”

Jeffrey D. Brasie frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. He served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.