# Gold Star Designation: An Overview

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AIF11200

## Record

- **Collection:** Congressional research report
- **Document type:** In Focus
- **Published:** March 2, 2026
- **Citation:** IF11200

## Text

Updated March 2, 2026

Gold Star Designation: An Overview
Background
During the years of U.S. participation in World War I
(WWI, 1917-1918), an informal practice developed where
some families would display service banners adorned with
blue stars in the windows of their homes to signify
participation in the armed forces. Each blue star symbolized
a family member serving in the war. When a
servicemember was killed or died, it became customary for
families to replace the blue star with a gold star.
In a separate but related practice, President Woodrow
Wilson expressed support in May 1918 for a
recommendation made by the Women’s Committee of the
Council for National Defense that American women should
wear a black band on the upper left arm, affixed with a gold
star to signify the loss of a family member during the war.
In October 1942, Congress enacted P.L. 77-750 “to
authorize the Secretary of War to approve a standard design
for a service flag and a service lapel button.”
Current policy by the Department of Defense (DOD),
which is “using a secondary Department of War
designation,” under Executive Order 14347 dated
September 5, 2025, regarding display of the gold star on the
Service Flag is contained in DOD Instruction (DODI)
1348.36, Gold Star Lapel Button, Service Flag, and Service
Lapel Button. The policy remains essentially unchanged,
stating: “If the Service member symbolized is killed or dies
from causes other than dishonorable, the star representing
that individual will have a gold star of smaller size
superimposed on it, so that the blue forms a border.”

Gold Star Lapel Button
In 1947, Congress enacted P.L.80-306, requiring the
“Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy” to
provide Gold Star Lapel Buttons (GSLB) “for widows,
parents, and next of kin of members of the armed forces
who lost their lives” in the U.S. armed services during
World War II (WWII). The GSLB has a gold star mounted
on a purple surface surrounded by laurel leaves. See Figure
1. GLSB eligibility has evolved over time. Current criteria
are outlined under 10 U.S.C. §1126(a): “A lapel button, to
be known as the gold star lapel button, shall be designed, as
approved by the Secretary of Defense, to identify next of
kin of members of the armed forces—(1) who lost their
lives during World War I, World War II, or during any
subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United
States was engaged before July 1, 1958; (2) who lost or lose
their lives after June 30, 1958—(A) while engaged in an
action against an enemy of the United States; (B) while
engaged in military operations involving conflict with an
opposing foreign force; or (C) while serving with friendly
foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the
United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing
armed force; or (3) who lost or lose their lives after March
28, 1973, as a result of—(A) an international terrorist attack

against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the
United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary
of Defense; or (B) military operations while serving outside
the United States (including the commonwealths, territories,
and possessions of the United States) as part of a
peacekeeping force.”
Under 10 U.S.C. §1126(d)(1), “The term “next of kin”
means individuals standing in such relationship to members
of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) as the
Secretaries concerned shall jointly specify in regulations for
purposes of this section.” Section 3.3 of DODI 1348.36
details who may wear the GSLB.
Families of servicemembers who died in circumstances
other than those listed under 10 U.S.C. §1126(a) may not be
eligible for the Gold Star Lapel Button. However, they may
be eligible to display a gold star on the Service Flag and
may qualify for the Next of Kin Lapel Button. (For more
information, see DODI 1348.36 in Sections 4.1-4.3.)
Next of Kin Lapel Button
Approved in 1973, the Next of Kin Lapel Button (also
referred to as the Next of Kin Pin) is provided to the
families of servicemembers who lost their lives while
serving on active duty or while serving in a drill status as a
member of the National Guard or Reserves in circumstance
other than killed in action. The Next of Kin Lapel Button is
gold, with a star within a circle of sprigs of oak. According
to DOD’s Casualty, Mortuary Affairs, and Military Funeral
Honors Programs Content Guide, the star denotes honorable
service and the oak sprigs symbolize the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, and Air Force.
Figure 1. Gold Star Lapel Button (left) and Next of
Kin Lapel Button (right)

Source: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) at
https://www.taps.org/articles/15-2/goldstarpins

Military Death Benefits
After the death of a servicemember on active duty, the
respective military department assigns a casualty assistance
officer to assist any surviving spouse, child(ren), or other
designated beneficiaries, with all eligible benefits and
entitlements. These generally include the following:

• $100,000 tax-exempt, lump sum, DOD death gratuity
paid to designated beneficiaries.
• Burial assistance including the disposition of remains
and travel to the burial site for the servicemember’s
immediate family.
• Any unpaid pay and allowances at the time of death.

https://crsreports.congress.gov

Gold Star Designation: An Overview

• Residence in government housing or payment of Basic
•
•
•
•

Allowance for Housing (BAH) for up to a year.
Access to commissaries and exchanges.
TRICARE benefits.
Up to $500,000 non-taxable Servicemembers’ Group
Life Insurance (SGLI) payments (distributed as a lump
sum or in 36 equal monthly payments).
One or more survivor benefit annuities (DOD Survivor
Benefit Plan, Social Security and/or the Department of
Veterans Affairs Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation).

Each benefit described above has unique eligibility criteria.
Survivors may qualify for a benefit based on their unique
circumstances. For additional guidance on survivor
benefits, see DOD’s Support for Survivors Guide and the
Benefits Finder. Separately, DOD also provides eligible
surviving family members with authorized access to online
survivor benefits reports, which guide survivors through
benefits eligibility. For additional information on selected
benefits, see also VA Benefits for Veterans’ Spouses,
Dependents, and Survivors site and CRS Report R45325,
Military Survivor Benefit Plan: Background and Issues for
Congress.

Selected Legislation
Congress has enacted several laws related to the Gold Star
designation and Gold Star families.
Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage. To enable
the mothers and widows of deceased American
servicemembers interred in European cemeteries to make a
pilgrimage to these cemeteries. Mar. 2, 1929, P.L. 70-952,
45 Stat. 1508.
Gold Star Mother’s Day. To designate the last Sunday in
September as “Gold Star Mother’s Day,” and for other
purposes. June 23, 1936, Pub. Res. 74-123, 49 Stat. 1895.
Service Flag and Lapel Button. To authorize the Secretary
of War to approve a standard design for a service flag and a
lapel button. Oct. 17, 1942, P.L. 77-750, 56 Stat 796.
GSLB and WWII. To provide appropriate lapel buttons for
widows, parents, and next of kin of members of the Armed
Forces who lost their lives in the U.S. armed services in
WWII. Aug. 1, 1947, P.L. 80-306, 61 Stat. 710.
GSLB and Subsequent Conflicts. To provide appropriate
lapel buttons for widows, parents, and next of kin members
of the Armed Forces who lost or lose their lives in the
armed services of the United States during World War II or
during any subsequent war or period of armed hostilities.
Aug. 21, 1951, P.L.82-121, 66 Stat. 195.
GSLB and the Cold War. To amend Title 10, U.S. Code,
to provide gold star lapel buttons for the next of kin of
members of the Armed Forces who lost or lose their lives in
war or as a result of cold war incidents. Aug. 11, 1966, P.L.
89-534, 80 Stat. 345.
Gold Star Wives, Inc. To incorporate the Gold Star Wives
of America. Dec. 4, 1980, P.L. 96-497, 94 Stat. 2595.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. To recognize the
organization known as the American Gold Star Mothers,
Incorporated. June 12, 1984, P.L. 98-314, 98 Stat. 237.

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for
FY1994, Section 1143. Award of gold star lapel buttons to
survivors of service members killed by terrorist acts. Nov.
30, 1993, P.L. 103-160, 107 Stat. 1757.
NDAA for FY2006, Section 562. Policy and Procedures on
Casualty Assistance to Survivors of Military Decedents.
Jan. 6, 2006, P.L. 109-163, 119 Stat. 3267, as amended by
P.L. 109-364, Div. A, Title V, §566, Oct. 17, 2006, 120
Stat. 2223.
NDAA for FY2013, Section 2859. Establishment of a
commemorative work to Gold Star Mothers. Jan. 2, 2013,
P.L. 112-239, 126 Stat. 2164.
NDAA for FY2014, Section 633. Improved assistance for
Gold Star spouses and other dependents. Dec. 26, 2013,
P.L. 113-66, 127 Stat. 786.
Gold Star Fathers Act of 2015. To amend chapter 21 of
Title 5, U.S. Code, to provide that fathers of certain
permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be
included with mothers of such veterans as preference
eligibles for treatment in the civil service. Oct. 7, 2015, P.L.
114-62, 129 Stat 547.
Gold Star Families Voices Act. To amend the Veterans’
Oral History Project Act to allow the collection of video
and audio recordings of biographical histories by immediate
family members of the Armed Forces who died as a result
of their service during a period of war. Nov. 28, 2016, P.L.
114-246, 130 Stat. 995.
NDAA for FY2020, Section 581. Modification of
authorities on eligibility for and replacement of gold star
lapel buttons. Dec. 20, 2019, P.L. 116-92, 133 Stat. 1411.
NDAA for FY2021, Sections 624 and 625. Expansion of
assistance for Gold Star spouses and other dependents (Sec.
624). Gold Star Families Parks Pass (Sec. 625). Jan. 1,
2021, P.L. 116-283, 134 Stat. 3677.
NDAA for FY2022, Sections 626(c) and 1061.
Establishment of certain definitions (Sec. 626(c)).
Inclusion of support services for Gold Star families in
quadrennial quality of life review (Sec. 1061). P.L. 117-81,
Dec. 27, 2021; 135 Stat. 1775 and 135 Stat. 1909.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Section 114.
Green and Gold Congressional Aide Program. P.L. 117103, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 511.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Section 642.
Waiver of special use permit application fee for veterans’
special events. P.L. 117-328, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5612.

Relevant Statutes
Title 10 U.S. Code §1126 – Gold star lapel button: eligibility
and distribution.
Title 10 U.S. Code §1475 – Death gratuity: death of members
on active duty or inactive duty training.
Title 36 U.S. Code Ch. 211 – American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Title 36 U.S. Code Ch. 805 – Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.

Carly A. Miller, Senior Research Librarian

https://crsreports.congress.gov

Gold Star Designation: An Overview
IF11200

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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11200 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/crs%3AIF11200. Public record. Not legal advice.