BLUE TO GOLD LIAISONS Thank you for honoring the families of our beloved fallen Heroes

Slideshow presented Convention 2019 by

Teri Reece, National Third Vice President Credits also to: Christine Boyd, Past National Third Vice President & her Blue to Gold Liaison Handbook

• After the September 11 terrorist attack on American soil and impending War on the horizon, fear and sorrow entered the hearts of Blue Star Mothers. Memories

of the Vietnam War surfaced. Determined not to let our Nation mar the sacrifice of the Warrior or the family left behind, the Blue to Gold Program was borne out

of honor, love, and respect.

• In military tradition, when a man or woman enters the Armed Forces of the United States of America, pledging to defend America with their life, a Blue Star

Banner may be displayed by their family.

• The Red border of the Banner represents the blood shed by past Warriors in defending our Nation.

• The field of White symbolizes the purity of Spirit – the price of Peace that only a Warrior understands.

• The Blue Star signifies loyalty, honor, and duty entrusted in our Defenders.

• The Blue to Gold Program presentations is an honor by all Blue to Gold Liaisons.

BLUE TO GOLD PROGRAM

• If fate causes the death of a defender, a smaller Gold Star for Valor and Sacrifice is placed over the Blue Star. The border of Blue is a constant reminder the

Warrior and family will always be remembered and honored by the brothers and sisters who lived to tell the tale. We, the Blue Star Mothers, stand beside our

children in this legacy.

• The presentation of the Gold Star Banner is a solemn obligation of comfort and love to another parent and spouse.

• The decision to receive and how to receive the Gold Star Banner is always the decision of the family.

• It may not be possible for a member to present the banner. Options are the CAO, another organization, such as TAPS, Patriot Guard, etc. Under rare

circumstances the Gold Star may be mailed.

• The Blue to Gold Liaisons should make all steps necessary to attempt to do the presentations themselves. The CAO should not be presenting the BSMA, Inc. Blue

to Gold Banners.

BLUE TO GOLD PROGRAM

Login to www.bluestarmothers.org - MY PROFILE TAB - EDIT PROFILE (to the right of your name) - SUBSCRIBE TO ELIST and change to YES - BLUE TO GOLD LIAISON change to – YES

To read up on our Blue to Gold guidelines

- FILES (left side) - Gold Star Files - Blue to Gold guidelines

To Receive DoD Blue to Gold Liaison Emails

• The DoD will remit notification of all DoD casualties of active military for combat related deaths OR for active military killed in non-combat while deployed.

• The DoD will NOT remit notification of any other active military deaths.

• Third Vice President has been instructed that she is not allowed to remit non DoD casualty notifications through the Blue to Gold email list serves.

• Third Vice President will remit non DoD casualty notifications through the Blue to Gold email list serve in the event of a mass military casualty.

DoD Casualty Notifications

• Chapter Presidents list the Blue to Gold Liaison on the master form at the BSMA, Inc. Website.

• The Blue to Gold Liaison then makes sure that their personal profile page on the BSMA, Inc. Website is marked as the Blue to Gold Liaison and they have followed the steps to receive the DoD Casualty Emails.

• In some Chapters, the Third Vice President, the Chaplain or the President is the Blue to Gold Liaison. Chapters can decide who they wish to have represent their Chapter.

• Some Chapters have more than 1 Blue to Gold Liaison, but only 1 name can be listed on the BSMA, Inc. form. It is suggested to have more than 1 B2G Liaison and also suggested to have at least 2 people for the Gold Banner Presentations.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BE A BLUE TO GOLD

LIAISON?

• Commit to abiding by the wishes of the family and the instructions of the Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO). NOTE: More than one CAO may be assigned to the

family – make sure to coordinate.

• Commit to following the guidelines of the Blue Star Mothers of American, Inc.

• Commit to working with the National Third Vice President, Chapter members and all Chapters within the State.

• Commit to send timely notices and involve State Members in the presentation.

• Commit to a standardization of presentations within the State.

• Commit to ensure that all arrangements and details are finalized.

• Commit to the privacy of the family.

• Commit to training others in the Chapter of the responsibilities and duties of the Chapter Blue to Gold Liaison.

• Have patience. Understand that you may receive information in a short time frame.

CHAPTER LIAISON GUIDELINES

• Navy Pants

• Navy Blazer

• White Shirt

• White Gloves

• BSMA Hat

• Please be respectful

and dress accordingly.

UNIFORM FOR BLUE TO GOLD LIAISONS

• It is encouraged for all Blue to Gold Liaisons to remember that this is a very difficult time for the families of our fallen Heroes. It is recommended to present

the Gold Star Banner, kneeling in front of each recipient, present the Gold Star Banner, and state:

• “ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION AND THE BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA, INC., WE PRESENT THIS GOLD STAR BANNER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND OUR CONDOLENCES ON THE POSS OF YOUR (SON/DAUGHTER) (NAME) UNITED STATES (BRANCH).”

• 1 sentence is all you need to say.

• No 2 presentations are the same and you may be asked to be a part of the actual services. Please remember that you are there to perform the task of the

Gold Star Banner presentation and you are a direct representative of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. You do not need to read poems, the history of

BSMA, Inc., etc., UNLESS you are asked specifically to be a part of the ceremony. Honor and Respect the families.

GOLD STAR BANNER PRESENTATION –

WHAT DO I SAY?

• Contact the National Third Vice President at 3VP@bluestarmothers.us

• Contact the CAO. The duty of the CAO is to protect and honor the family.

• The CAO answers to the family and the DoD.

• If you are not able to contact the CAO, ask the funeral director for assistance to make contact.

• After contact has been made with the CAO, provide your contact information and information on the Blue to Gold Program. This will be relayed to the family.

Information on family contact will be given to you by the CAO.

• Coordinate the presentation with the CAO.

• Make sure that you are presenting the Gold Star Banner.

• Just because the fallen hero is ‘from’ your area, doesn’t mean that is where the service will be.

• Do not order the Gold Star Banners unless you are handling the presentation.

CHAPTER PRESENTATIONS GUIDELINES

GOLD STAR BANNERS

CODE OF CONDUCT

ARTICLE XIII. BLUE TO GOLD PROGRAM

Section 1. Service Flags, Inc. is a family owned company located in Nevada (a strong supporter and donor to the Corporation since early 2002). All banners are donated or purchased through Service Flags, Inc.,

because the Corporation has entered into an Agreement with Service Flags, Inc., that permits the Corporation to purchase banners at a lower price than it would otherwise be able to do.

Section 2. A Department of Defense official banner for a Fallen Warrior should be ordered through the National Third Vice President and should be presented to the parents and spouse of military personnel

killed while serving his or her country. If the parents are not married, a separate banner should be presented to each. Banners for additional family Members may be purchased by the Department or

Chapter. The National Third Vice President shall oversee and administer this Program.

GOLD STAR BANNERS – MUST BE

ORDERED THROUGH BSMA, INC.

• Log on to the BSMA, Inc. Website: www.bluestarmothers.org

• Click on the “Blue to Gold Page” on the left hand side.

• Click on “Order a Banner”

• Here you will fill in the request form for the Banner and be able to order more than 1 Banner.

• Who can receipt a Gold Star Banner? Spouse, Mother and Father. If the parents are divorced, please order a Banner for each parent.

• To Present a Gold Star Banner on behalf of BSMA, Inc. – you MUST order your Gold Star Banner through the National Website.

• You MUST have the address of the Spouse, Mother and/or Father (if divorced) when ordering the Gold Star Banner. The new website Order form will have this information mandatory to complete your Order. There are instances when this information will not be released. Contact the 3VP, 3vp@bluestarmothers.us, to special circumstances.

• The National Chaplain has a database that contains the names and addresses of each fallen Heroes Mother. Each Gold Star Mother Day, the National Chaplain remits a card on behalf of BSMA, Inc. so this information when filing out the request for a Gold Star Banner is required. Banner requests without this information cannot be processed.

HOW TO ORDER A GOLD STAR BANNER

• You can receive up to three (3) Banners: Mother, Father, Spouse

• If parents are still married, then it would only be two (2) banners: Parents & Spouse.

• Additional Gold Star Banners can be purchased at a discounted price for siblings, grandparents, etc. and are to be ordered directly from Service Flags

GOLD STAR BANNERS

• Once you have ordered your Banner Request from the BSMA, Inc. website, your request is sent to the National Third Vice President.

• National Third Vice President then verifies that all information is completed on the form and confirms the Fallen Heroes death and that he/she was on active duty at the time.

• National Third Vice President then approves and processes your request.

• Your Request is sent to Service Flags, who then awaits you to complete your order.

• National Third Vice President then sends you an email advising that your order has been approved and processed and provides you with the full instructions in the body of the email to complete your order directly through Service Flags.

• Service Flags will hold your request for you to complete your order for 20 days. If you do not complete your order within that time frame, you will need to request the banner(s) again.

ONCE YOU HAVE ORDERED YOUR GOLD STAR

BANNER FROM THE BSMA, INC. WEBSITE

• Gold Star Banners that are ordered within 30 days from the date of the death are FREE and donated to BSMA, Inc. from Service Flags.

• Gold Star Banners that are ordered after 30 days from the date of the death are to be paid for at a discounted rate offered from Service Flags.

• Chapters are responsible for the shipping charges for all orders.

• Sometimes it is difficult to gather the information required for the Request Forms within the 30 days deadline and we understand that. Unfortunately, Service Flags is not flexible when it comes to their deadlines.

• To request a Gold Star Banner to be ‘overnighted’ could cost your Chapter an exuberant amount. If you need to, you could use a plain (not embordered) Gold Star Banner for your presentation and advise the recipients you can mail the Banner(s) once it comes in. Unfortunately, your CAO may not get back to you in time and sometimes you may find out about a presentation just days in advance.

GOLD STAR BANNER COSTS

CASUALTY ASSISTANCE OFFICERS – CAO’S

• A Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) is assigned to the family of each fallen service member who passed while on Active Duty, no matter the cause of the death.

• CAO information is given in the DoD Casualty Notifications that is remitted to the National Third Vice President.

• Military deaths that are non-combat are not released by the DoD and the CAO information is therefore unknown by the National Third Vice President.

• National Third Vice President scours news media, websites, FaceBook sites daily to be apprised of non-casualty deaths. She also becomes aware, when a

Chapter Blue to Gold Liaison, or a Chapter lets her know of a fallen hero in their City or State. If you have information of a non-casualty military death, please

notify National Third Vice President.

• National Third Vice President maintains, throughout the fiscal year, a list of all non-combat casualties.

• If you are made aware of a non-combat military casualty, no matter the cause of death, please email National Third Vice President at: 3VP@bluestarmothers.us

NON-COMBAT CASUALTIES

• National Third Vice President maintains the list of all Military Casualties, Military Non-Casualty Deaths, Veteran Deaths, and Blue Star Sister Deaths each fiscal

year.

• These fallen heroes are honored each year at the Convention Memorial Service. Military Causalities and Non-Casualty fallen Service Members are honored in the

National Yearbook.

• A fallen hero who is a son or daughter of a Member of one of our Chapters should also be reported to National Third Vice President. National Chaplain will then

remit condolences on behalf of BSMA, Inc. and their son or daughter will be honored in the National Yearbook.

• The names of all Veterans who passed each fiscal year are maintained by National Third Vice President and each name is read during the National Convention

Memorial Service.

• The names of all our Blue Star Sisters, now recognized as a Blue Star Daisy, are honored in the National Yearbook and each name is read during the National

Convention Memorial Service.

• It is very important that if you or your Chapter is made aware of one of these deaths, to please advise the National Third Vice President at

3VP@bluestarmothers.us

CONVENTION MEMORIAL SERVICES

• Families of military personnel killed in battle, as well as, military personnel who pass away while actively serving in our Military.

• Service Members “ACTIVE DUTY” at the time of their death – no matter the cause.

• National Guard Members are NOT eligible UNLESS they are on TITLE 10 ORDERS at the time.

• What are Title 10 Orders? For a member of the National Guard or a reserve Unit to be considered on Active Duty, they have to be on Title 10 Orders. This means

they either have to be Active on their one weekend a month/two weeks a year of training, or on their way to, or from, that training.

• Our Organization has to follow the strict DoD guidelines, and if they were not Active Duty when they died, then their family will not be eligible to receive a Gold

Star Banner.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A GOLD STAR

BANNER?

GOLD STAR LAPEL PIN

• The Gold Star Lapel Pin is awarded only to the relatives of those killed in specific conflicts listed in the “Information” Section on the back of DD Form 3. If your

loved one was killed during the time period of one of these conflicts, but not in the official area of the conflict, you will receive the Next of Kin Lapel Pin.

• The Lapel Button, Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel, is authorized for issue retroactive to March 29, 1973. If you are a relative listed above and your loved one

died while on active duty or while assigned to an Army Reserve or Army National Guard unit in a drill status, but under circumstances that do not qualify you

for the Gold Star Lapel Pin, you should be entitled to the Next of Kin Lapel Pin.

• On the BSMA, Inc. National Website, www.bluestarmothers.org, under the “Blue to Gold Section”, there is a button to order a Gold Star Lapel Pin.

• Does suicide qualify for a Gold Star Banner? YES, if they were Active Duty at the time of their death.

• Why won’t the Casualty Assistant Officer call me back? The CAO is usually new on the job and in the grand scheme of things, you are the least of their worries.

They are rushed to making sure the Fallen Hero arrives at the funeral home, the families needs and wishes are met, the funeral services get arranged, the uniform,

the medals, the military higher ups, etc. Please email and call, let them know who you are, what our BSMA Organization does for our Fallen Heroes. Remember

that the Gold Star Banner does not always have to be presented at the funeral. You may have to contact the funeral home for help. NEVER GO DIRECTLY TO

THE FAMILY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

• Is it okay to have other Chapter Members help with presenting? YES. (WHITE GLOVES A MUST)

• Can I just call Service Flags directly to order my Gold Star Banner? NO. You must go through the National Third Vice President.

• Can I call Service Flags directly if I want to order additional Gold Star Banners for the Fallen Heroes siblings or children? YES. Once you sent in your Gold Star

Banner request and finalized your order, you may contact the in the future to order additional banners or replace a faded old Gold Star Banner.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

THANK YOU FOR HONORING THE FAMILIES

OF OUR FALLEN HEROES

• It is because of each B2G Liaison that BSMA, Inc. is able to honor the families of our Fallen Heroes with dignity, respect, and honor.

• On behalf of all the BSMA, Inc. members – THANK YOU.