VALHALLA, NY (September 27, 2025) — Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and Veterans Service Agency Director Josh Gaccione led a poignant ceremony Friday to honor the parents and families of military service members who died in service, recognizing their enduring sacrifice during the Annual Gold Star Mothers and Families Tribute Ceremony.
Held at the Kensico Dam Plaza Walk of Honor, the event paid tribute to county service members lost during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Their names were read aloud, saluted by members of the Bronx Army Recruiting Company and New York City Recruiting Battalion.
The tradition of the gold star, symbolizing the loss of a family member in military service, dates to World War I. In 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day, now known as Gold Star Mother’s and Families Day. Following World War II, Congress established the Gold Star Lapel Pin, awarded to immediate family members of active-duty military killed in service.
“When a child is called to military service, for parents there’s pride, there’s patriotism, but there’s trepidation too, because military parents share a fundamental dream—that their child will come home,” Jenkins said. “No one dreams of a Gold Star. To our Gold Star mothers, fathers, and families, we are in awe of you. Our respect for your strength is deep. Our empathy for your loss is boundless. Our commitment to you is total, and our resolve to keep your child’s memory alive is absolute. Their spark of life may be gone from the plane, but we know still burns in you. May it burn in us too.”
Jenkins and Gaccione jointly emphasized the profound loss experienced by these families.
“There’s no human loss more profound than the loss of one’s child,” they said. “There are many sacrifices in military life, but for the mothers and fathers of our fallen heroes, that sacrifice is enduring. It is a testament to their strength and grace that they too endure. We can’t replace what they’ve lost, but we can resolve every day to fill the hole left behind with our strength, support, and love.”
The ceremony underscored Westchester County’s commitment to honoring the resilience of Gold Star families and preserving the memory of their loved ones.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
