Carbondale Reporter

In an April 5 Facebook post, Rep. Patrick Windhorst commemorated Gold Star Spouse Day.

“Today we recognize the loved ones of our nation’s fallen heroes and honor their shared service and sacrifice for our country. God bless Gold Star Spouses.”

Statista noted various numbers of military fatalities in all major wars involving the U.S. between 1775 to 2023. It noted the American Civil War saw the highest number of deaths at approximately 620 thousand.

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice Committee and Judiciary-Criminal. Windhorst is a state representative who resides in Metropolis, according to the Illinois House.

The Housing Assistance Council reported Illinois is home to 570,264 veterans.

Gold Star Spouse’s Day has a history that begins in 1936 – when it was known as “Gold Star Mother’s Day. Then it was observed on the last Sunday in September. A Gold Star Wives organization started before the end of WWII and the lapel button tradition started in 1947. The first Gold Star Wives Day was in December 2010, and codified by the U.S. Senate in 2012, with Gold Star Wives Day happening on April 5. It was called Gold Star Spouse’s Day to be more inclusive.

NPR reported the GOP turned against veterans as the Senate was poised to pass a bill to provide health care and benefits to veterans injured by toxins, saying the same GOP initially supported the effort.

A Gold Star Family is one who has lost a member in the line of duty - during their military service, according to the National Veterans Memorial Museum. The museum can share a collection of resources for Gold Star Families, and Gold Star Spouses.

To find Veterans Affairs office locations, visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Locations webpage.

According to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 333 Gold Star families in the state, as of April 2023. IDVA honors these individuals and families throughout the year and offers various support programs. They can also connect Gold Star Spouses and Gold Star Families with other resources.