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America’s Gold Star Families was founded to provide honor, hope and healing to those grieving any military loss. We are open to all family members who have lost a loved one while serving active duty in the United States Armed Forces.
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle, for his widow and his orphan.” Abraham Lincoln 1865
President Lincoln’s admonishment is what we at AGSF endeavor to do on a daily basis with the following programs, services and partnerships.
- Hometown Hero Banner Project for Illinois fallen heroes
- Award annual scholarships and grants to Illinois family members (see guidelines below)
- Underwrite grief counseling for central Illinois survivors
- Work with legislators for highway designations in honor of fallen heroes
- (Nationwide) Children’s Birthday Card Program–we send birthday cards containing a $20 Walmart gift card to children of the fallen across the USA. Currently we send to 600+ children located in 44 states.
- (Nationwide) Each Christmas season AGSF hosts two Fallen Heroes Tree of Honor located in the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington, IL. We currently have 155 ornaments representing 35 states. This project is in partnership with the Sgt. Anthony R. Maddox Memorial and led by Chairwoman Frances Maddox. If you would like AGSF to create an ornament for your fallen hero please visit home page and click on Ornament Registration Tab.
America’s Gold Star Families Scholarship Guidelines
To date AGSF has awarded almost $20,000.00 in scholarships and grants to families of the fallen. Deadline for application is September 15 of every year.
Eligibility: America’s Gold Star Families will be awarding $1000 scholarships to Illinois family members who lost a loved one in service to our country. Each is a non-renewable scholarship to be used at a college/university, junior college or a trade/vocational school. Please provide the following information:
Provide your name, address, phone number and email address.
State the name of fallen and your relationship.
Maintain C+ average and show proof of grades.
Show proof of acceptance to College, University or Trade School.
A paragraph stating what you did in school and where you see yourself in the future.
The check will be made out to the college, university or trade school.
Scholarship deadline is September 15 of each year.
Are you available to accept the scholarship in person at the Oct. Commemoration?
Submit information to info@americasgoldstarfamilies.org
For questions call 309-231-5090.
WHAT WE DON’T DO
PLEASE NOTE: We do not have an exhaustive national database of every gold star family in the USA. Weekly AGSF receives calls asking for a list of gold star families in various communities across the country. We do not have this information. Check with your local veterans organizations to see if they know of any. Thank you.