Gold Star Pins:
Everything You Need to Know

Symbols of Honor

When you see someone wearing either the Gold Star or Next of Kin Lapel Button, know that he or she has lost a loved one who selflessly served our nation.

Please explore our site to learn more about what you can do to remember, respect, and honor our fallen service members and their surviving families who wear the Gold Star or Next of Kin Lapel Buttons.

Where Did Gold Star Pins Come From?

Since World War I, a gold star has been the symbol used to identify and commemorate family members who have lost a loved one in war.

The Gold Star lapel pin that is in use today was established by an Act of Congress on August 1, 1947 (Public Law 80-306 Chapter 426), as the officially recognized symbol to identify widows, parents, and next of kin of US military service members killed in military operations, as defined by the law.

“Over 7,000 United States service members have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since the onset of “the global war on terror” which unofficially began Sept. 11, 2001.

More than 16,000 have died of other causes in that time. Gold Star families have borne the losses, and Defense Department officials want Americans – especially those serving in the department – to understand what the Gold Star lapel pin and Next of Kin lapel pins mean.”

~ Department of Defense

While the law was enacted in 1947, it is retroactively inclusive of all service members killed in World War I (April 6, 1917, to March 3, 1921) and World War II (September 8, 1939, to July 25, 1947).

The pins were created ”to recognize the sacrifices of so many,” said Deborah Skillman, the program director at the Military Community and Family Policy Office in the Pentagon.

In accordance with section 1126, title 10, United States Code, “Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution,” the Gold Star Lapel Button is provided by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned to identify widows, parents and next-of-kin of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives:

• During World War I (April 6, 1917, to March 3, 1921);
• During World War II (September 8, 1939, to July 25, 1947);
• During any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the U.S. was engaged before July 1, 1958; or
• After June 30, 1958, while:

• engaged in an action against a U.S. enemy; or
• engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or
• serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force; or

• After March 28, 1973, as a result of:

• an international terrorist attack against the U.S. or a foreign nation friendly to the U.S., recognized as an attack by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned; or
• military operations while serving outside the U.S. (including the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the U.S.), as part of a peacekeeping force.

• Lebanon, July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
• Republic of Vietnam, July 1, 1958 to March 28, 1973
• Quemoy and Matsu Islands, August 23, 1958 to June 1, 1963
• Taiwan Straits, August 23, 1958 to January 1, 1959
• U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations in the Congo, July 14, 1960 to September 1, 1962
• U.S. operations of assistance to the Republic of Laos, April 19, 1961 to October 7, 1962
• Berlin, August 14, 1961 to June 1, 1963
• Cuba, October 24, 1962 to June 1, 1963
• Congo, November 23, 1964 to November 27, 1964
• Dominican Republic, April 28, 1965 to September 21, 1966
• Korea, October 1, 1966 to June 30, 1974
• Cambodia, March 29, 1973 to August 15, 1973
• Thailand, March 29, 1973 to August 15, 1973
• Cambodia, April 11, 1975 to April 13, 1975
• Vietnam, April 29, 1975 to April 30, 1975
• Mayaguez Operation, May 15, 1975
• Lebanon, June 1983 to
• Grenadan Operation, October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983
• Operation Eldorado Canyon, April 2, 1986 to April 17, 1986
• Panama, December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
• Desert Shield/Desert Storm, August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995
• Haiti, September 16, 1994 to March 31, 1995
• Somalia, December 5, 1992 to March 31, 1995
• Operations in the Persian Gulf, November 30, 1995 to (to be determined)
• Operations in and around the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, December 20, 1996 to June 20, 1998 and any subsequent operations as may be announced by the Secretary of Defense.