State officials honored Gold Star families — the immediate family members of someone who has died in active-duty military service — in a Statehouse remembrance ceremony.
The Sept. 25 ceremony, which incorporated yellow roses, was held on the south lawn’s Kansas Veterans Walk, where the state has a Gold Star memorial that was authorized by a 2022 law. It was hosted by the Kansas Office of Veterans Services.
The Kansas Office of Veterans Services recognized and honored Kansas Gold Star families on the Kansas Statehouse grounds on Sept. 25.
“We are honoring the family members of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while on duty in one of our branches of our military,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “Life is hard enough when you’re in the military, but then to lose your spouse, or your brother, your uncle, is incredibly hard.
“I think it’s so important that not only we not forget those who actually die, but we remember the ones they left behind. That’s what we’re doing here.”
“It’s very touching,” said U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee in Congress.
Bill Turner, executive director of the Kansas Office of Veterans Service, gave closing remarks Sept. 25 at the Kansas Gold Star families ceremony.
“I leaned over the folks sitting next to me as the families were coming up one rose at a time and saying it really drives home the weight of the sacrifice when you see the length of the line. It makes a difference to folks, and it’s important we never forget.”
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas honors Gold Star families who lost loved ones in military
