Location: 721 N Main St, Mantorville, MN 55955
Background: The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument located in Mantorville was unveiled in July of 2022 directly next to the Dodge County Government Services building. This black granite memorial stands in honor of the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military. With the opening of the monument, families now have a place where they can mourn, remember, and honor their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice. The site has three benches facing the memorial, a flagpole equipped with a Gold Star flag, a beautiful flower garden, and a silhouette of a service person saluting the American flag that flies next to the Government Services Building.
To be a Gold Star family is an "honor that no one wants".
The Gold Star symbol began during World War I. At the start of the American involvement in 1917, families hung banners with blue stars representing family members in the services. If the service member died in combat, the family changed the blue star to gold. After the war, Gold Star mothers banded together. The group incorporated in 1928. History taken from the US Department of Defense website.
Currently we annually celebrate National Gold Star Mother's Day on the last Sunday of September.