PEORIA, Ill – The City of Peoria is honoring Gold Star Families
Mayor Rita Ali has declared Sunday, September 28 as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day.
The designation marks the culmination of Gold Star remembrance week which occurred Sept. 21-27.
Honoring the occasion, the Murray Baker Bridge, which carries I-74 traffic across the Illinois River, will light up in gold Monday and Tuesday.
The gold symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice of fallen heroes and serves as a visual testament to their families.
America’s Gold Star Families is a non-profit dedicated to honoring fallen heroes who died while serving on active duty and providing hope, healing and comfort to their families.
The tradition of honoring fallen heroes began during World War I, where a gold star replaced a blue star on service flags, signifying a family member killed in the line of duty.
Congress approved Senate Joint Resolution 115 on June 23, 1936, officially designating the last Sunday in September as “Gold Star Mothers Day.”
An annual commemoration ceremony took place in Peoria September 20 to remember fallen heroes from Central Illinois.
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