Red Star Moms: Honoring the Mothers of Military, Veteran, and First Responder Suicide Loss
A Community No One Wants to Join
For generations, Gold Star Moms have been recognized as mothers who have lost a child in military service, their grief acknowledged by a nation that understands their sacrifice. But there exists another group of mothers—one whose loss is just as profound but often overlooked. These are the Red Star Moms, women who have lost a son or daughter to suicide after serving in the military or as a first responder.
The Red Star Foundation is working to change that, ensuring that the families of those lost to suicide receive the same recognition, support, and community that other military and first responder families do.
The Hidden Toll of Service
Every year, thousands of military service members, veterans, and first responders die by suicide—often struggling with the unseen wounds of war, trauma, and the intense pressures of their profession. These deaths leave behind grieving mothers, fathers, spouses, siblings, and children, many of whom suffer in silence, feeling isolated in their grief.
For too long, the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide has left families feeling as though their loved one’s sacrifice was somehow less worthy of remembrance. Red Star Moms are breaking that silence, coming together to support one another and to advocate for change.
What It Means to Be a Red Star Mom
A Red Star Mom is a mother who has lost a child to suicide after they served in the military, law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, or other first responder roles. These women bear the unimaginable pain of losing a child while also navigating a system that has not always recognized their loss. Through the Red Star Foundation, they are finding a community that understands their grief, offers support, and works toward meaningful change.
Red Star Moms Are:
• Advocates: Fighting for better mental health resources, suicide prevention efforts, and recognition for families of military and first responder suicides.
• Supporters: Offering a shoulder to lean on for other mothers who are just beginning their grief journey.
• Voices for Change: Speaking out to ensure that military and first responder suicides are not ignored and that real solutions are pursued.
The Red Star Banner and Pin
To honor these families, the Red Star Foundation has introduced the Red Star Service Banner and Red Star Pin, symbols of remembrance and recognition. Just as Gold Star Families have long had a banner to represent their loss, Red Star Families now have their own emblem, ensuring that their loved one’s memory is preserved.
At official events, memorial ceremonies, and advocacy gatherings, Red Star Moms proudly display these symbols—not only as a tribute to their child but as a call to action for the nation to do more in the fight against suicide among military members, veterans, and first responders.
A Call to Action
The mission of the Red Star Foundation is clear:
• To support and recognize families of military, veteran, and first responder suicide loss.
• To advocate for better mental health resources and suicide prevention programs.
• To ensure that no mother, no family, and no service member or first responder is forgotten.
If you or someone you love has been affected by military or first responder suicide, you are not alone. The Red Star Foundation is here to offer support, advocacy, and a community that understands your pain.
Together, we can break the silence, honor the fallen, and fight for those still with us. #REDSTARMOM
