Blue Star moms' homefront aid

Jo Ann Ross is one of many area mothers who knows the joy of welcoming home a loved one from dangerous duty on foreign soil.

Her sons, Army Spc. Austin Matthew and Army Capt. Chris Matthew, along with Chris' wife, Army Capt. Katie Matthew, have served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both. All three returned to the States safely.

As she awaited their safe return, Ross found support from the Blue Star Mothers of America, a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization of mothers who have, or have had, children serving in the military.

Members hang blue stars in their windows when their children join the armed forces. The tradition began in 1917 during World War I and was adopted when the organization was formed in 1942. The blue star is replaced with a gold one if a service member dies on active duty. The Gold Star Mothers of America came from this group.

The Star Mothers collectively support their families. When a blue star turns to gold, mothers bring flowers, attend funerals and help the family through their grief.

"I have traveled throughout the state meeting returning soldiers or giving grief support to families whose child did not make it," Ross said. "I've planted more flags on graves than I can count. It's tough to do, and it breaks your heart every single time, but if my shared tears and hugs have been able to ease some of the pain for even a single moment, it's all been worth it."

There are 157 Blue Star mothers in the state and 7,000 in the nation, said Susan Niall, past national president and founder of Blue to Gold, and the first president of the Florida chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America.

The organization also promotes patriotism and assists veterans organizations.

For information about the Blue Star organization, go to www.bluestarmothers .org. For information on Florida chapters, go to www.flbluestarmoms.org.