Blue Star Moms give deployed service members a piece of home

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Posted 4:48 PM 9/26/2012 : Blue Star Moms give deployed service members a piece of home

TUCSON - Imagine not seeing any member of your family or close friends for an entire year or even longer. That is exactly what happens when someone in the military is deployed.

One group here in Tucson is on a mission to make being away from home a little easier to endure. They are called Blue Star Mom's, parents who's sons and daughters are serving or have served in the military. Together they are determined to put a symbol of home in the pocket of every deployed service member.

The vice president of the Blue Star Moms Arizona Chapter, Jackie Gordon, says every week the members meet to cut out stars from retired American flags.

"We don't take any new flags, we only take flags that have flown here in United States," Gordon said. "Because they know someone cared enough to fly that flag."

Point to Point they cut, careful to save all scraps so it can be burned with the rest of the flag. The stars are collected and put in to small plastic bags along with a note that includes the words, "I am a part of an American flag, I can no longer fly, please carry me as a reminder you are never forgotten."

According to the president of the Blue Star Moms Arizona Chapter, Rachelle Hornby, the stars are given to deployed service members with a special request.

"We ask the servicemen to carry them in their left pockets over their hearts so that they always have a piece of home to carry with them wherever they go."

The moms also put together 50 gift boxes every quarter, containing toiletries, snacks and other items to send to service members who do not have any family back in the states.

"Those boxes are distributed by the chaplain to service members who don't get any packages from home," said Gordon. "So that might be the only package they get."

For these mom's, who know too well what it means to have a loved one in harms way, it all comes down to making sure that these service members know they will never be forgotten.

So far over 10,000 stars have been handed out. If you would like more information on how you can help the Blue Star Moms and their many projects email them at bluestarmotherstucson@gmail.com.