One thing most Delaware residents have in common is that they have driven down Route 1. Along this major highway is a hard-to-miss veterans war memorial at Dover Air Force Base that reads proudly, “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”
On a pleasant morning June 10 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, Gold Star families gathered for a dedication ceremony that recognized and remembered this message in a new light. The Gold Star Families of Delaware worked with the support of the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation for the unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.
The Woody Williams Foundation is dedicated to honoring, recognizing and serving Gold Star Families, which are family members and relatives who have lost a loved one in the armed forces.
Williams’ initial vision for a Gold Star Families monument involved only one, installed at the cemetery where he is now buried. Unveiled in Millsboro was the 158th monument.
All 50 states have at least one monument where families can go to recognize their loved ones. The monuments further stand as a place where these families can recognize themselves as survivors of their own tragedies.
The ceremony highlighted the importance of remembering the legacy of those who have sacrificed their lives for the country. The common theme among speakers at the event was recognizing the obligation every American has to keep the ultimate sacrifice servicemen and women have made for freedom in their hearts and minds.
“This is a place for them to come,” said Kristen Giordano, honorary board member, about the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.
Giordano is a Gold Star mother who lost her son Joey in 2022 when he was just 19 years old.
She spoke about his kind and friendly nature, his deep dimples when he smiled, and how meaningful it was for her to work with the USO, the nonprofit that assists service members and their families, following his passing.
Delaware has hundreds of Gold Star Families who have suffered the loss of a loved one in military service. It is always important to remember the sacrifice service members make in protecting America. This monument is a perfect representation of this remembrance, as it stands as a strong, black granite structure that reads, “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument” with the honorary gold star above the words. As the panels continue, it goes on to say, “A tribute to Gold Star Families and relatives who sacrificed a loved one for our freedom.”
The other side tells a story in four panels: homeland, family, patriot and sacrifice, with scenes depicting fallen heroes above each word.
The most distinctive feature is at the center of this tribute, where a cutout silhouette stands, representing loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.
