Recognizing Utah's Gold Star Families
Floor Speech
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Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of a grateful nation to pay tribute to the unparalleled sacrifices of Utah's Gold Star families. Thank you for your commitment to defending the Constitution of our great Nation. Thank you for your selfless service to others. And thank you for your love of our country, the United States of America. It is essential to our Nation's survival that we recognize and remember the sacrifices you have made.
Given the extraordinary nature of your sacrifices, the duty of recognizing and remembering them is of utmost importance. Furthermore, in a time when our Nation's cardinal values are more regularly attacked, this work mends the fraying fabric of freedom. My purpose today is to honor all that you, the Gold Star families of Utah, have done for our Nation and its citizens.
On August 1, 2020, a group of Utahns gathered at the North Ogden City Hall. There, in the heat of summer, the families, friends, and neighbors of fallen soldiers came together with business leaders and government officials to dedicate the North Ogden City Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. This monument, the first of its kind in Utah, but not the last, recognizes and remembers the sacrifices of Utah's Gold Star families. A similar monument has been built in St. George and will soon be dedicated. The monuments stand as beacons of light and hope, tributes to those who have been lost.
The idea for these monuments was inspired by the work of the Woody Williams Foundation whose mission is ``to honor, recognize, and serve Gold Star Families and the legacy of their Loved Ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.'' Their work, which focuses on the philosophical pillars of homeland, family, patriot, sacrifice, and legacy, gave North Ogden City and St. George a vision of what was possible.
After seeing the monument in North Ogden City, stakeholders in St. George decided they would raise funds, find land, and construct a monument of their own. St. George City, with the help of numerous residents and businesses began the work of designating space, securing over $100,000 of funding, and planning construction for the monument. The committee worked tirelessly to unify, educate, heal, and inspire others. Months of work led to a beautiful monument which now stands to honor Gold Star families and the losses they have endured.
Eight feet tall and 13 feet wide, the monuments made of solid black granite are two-sided tributes to the fallen. One side of each monument bears the words: ``Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.'' The other side tells a story across four granite panels highlighting the themes of homeland, family, patriot, and sacrifice. The most significant component of each monument is a gaping hole at the center of the solid granite slabs. The empty space, a silhouette of a saluting servicemember, represents the legacy of the loved ones of the Gold Star families who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Together, these features tell each community's unique story of sacrifice.
On the day of the dedication of the North Ogden monument, powerful stories and memories were shared. I want to highlight just a few.
Kirk Chugg, the director of Follow the Flag North Ogden, said there could be ``no better place [for the tribute]. As people go about their day, we hope they see the monument and teach their children what it means. It publicly proclaims to families that we have not forgotten them.''
``This will help us remember what America is all about,'' said Debbie Allen, mother of the late Lt. Kenneth ``Kage'' Allen. ``I think too many people forget what we stand for.''
James Laselute, of Layton, was there representing his stepson, the late Lance Cpl. Quinn Keith. He said: ``For our family, things like this help us through the grieving process and remind us that our loved one's legacy endures.'' He continued: ``Monuments like this are what keeps their name alive.''
Neal Berube, the mayor of North Ogden City at the time of the monument's dedication shared: ``The Gold Star designation dates back to World War I, when military families displayed service flags featuring a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the Armed Forces. The star's color would change to gold if a loved one died so the community would know the price the family had paid for freedom.''
Mayor Berube then concluded: ``The strength of our nation is our military. The strength of our military is our soldiers. And the strength of our soldiers are our families.''
As the people of St. George set out to dedicate their Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, similar sentiments have been shared. Jennifer Moxon, Bronwyn Mount, and Mayor Michele Randall--who, with the help of the St. George City Council, staff, and in partnership with the Major Brent Taylor Foundation, have helped lead the development of the St. George monument--have made powerful statements of gratitude and hope.
Jennifer Moxon, mother of the late Sgt. Douglas Lee Moxon, recently wrote: ``We are a family military. The very freedoms that we sometimes take for granted are what our sons and daughters fight for every day.'' She continued: ``When we lost our son, my perspective changed. The sacrifices these servicemembers and their families make every day are deserving of respect and honor. This monument allows us to pay tribute to the family members who lost loved ones. It is a place where we can come, feel peace, and hopefully recognize their sacrifice will never be forgotten.''
Gold Star Mother Bronwyn Mount, mother of the late Sgt. Bryan Cooper Mount, recently shared: ``I am constantly surprised by the realization that so many people all over the country are remembering and honoring Cooper. To have so many people working towards this dedication, for the last 20 months, has been humbling to our family. To have multiple friends and families be willing to donate to the cost of the memorial has touched us deeply. We are so grateful to be able to visit the memorial and think of Cooper's, and others', sacrifices. We are grateful for a community that cares about the sacrifice.''
Mayor Michele Randall shared: ``On August 6th, 2020, Sgt. Cooper Mount's flag-draped casket arrived at the St. George airport. Moved by the emotion and patriotism of the procession from the airport to the mortuary, the City of St. George chose to be the second city in Utah to install a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in the heart of the city at historic Town Square. Saturday, March 26th, 2022, will be the dedication of the memorial and the culmination of many hours of work and over $100,000 dollars raised by our residents. I cannot wait for our community to see this breathtaking monument in remembrance of our Gold Star families.''
I am honored to have the opportunity to highlight the great work that so many people freely participated in to make this memorial, which recognizes and remembers the sacrifices of Utah's Gold Star families, possible. These monuments are not the last of their kind in Utah or in the United States. More monuments are being discussed, planned, and constructed. The movement to honor Gold Star families across America has taken hold of many communities throughout the country.
Let us not allow this movement to rise in relevance for a moment and then fade. Let us recognize and remember, forever, the sacrifices of our Nation's Gold Star families.
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