I Remember Our Gold Star Mothers

Showing Honor Where Honor is Due | With the song “Beneath the Deep” for Gold Star Families

It is an honor no one would want, yet a grateful nation must show honor where honor is due. Gold Star Mothers, and now Gold Star Mothers and Families, began in WWI. The organization is now an officially recognized movement in the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration for those who lost a child in our nation’s uniformed services. Gold Star Mothers Day falls on the last Sunday in September.

I composed a song for Gold Star Mothers, I believe, in 2007 or 2008. I have ministered to many mothers and widows since I became an Army Chaplain in 1991 (I was in intelligence in the Navy before that). After the September 11th, 2001 Al Quida attacks, my caseload, sadly, increased dramatically. Out of this experience, I wrote “Beneath the Deep.” That process is usually how I compose songs: I minister the Gospel to others, experience God’s grace amid chaos or tragedy, and am moved to write by believers demonstrating courage and strength in weakness. In this case, there was an inspirational event to birth the song and an experience that burned its message in my heart in a new way.

A Dedication

I learned that friends from my school days lost a precious son in the war.

You can read more about the story, about school days, and how sorrow mingles with memory to seek healing. I wrote a special essay here. It, too, is part of the dedication and written with the hope that there is some Gospel salve here for others. - Mike:

Though I had not seen the husband and wife for many years, some part of the pain of their loss touched me deeply. Their loss made the day personal, leading me to use that song in this posting. With permission to use their names, I dedicate this song and article to Bambi and Leroy “Bubba” Achord in prayer for them over their indescribable loss, but in certain hope of the resurrection of their beloved child, their Soldier, our hero.

“Friends we knew follow us through all of the days of our lives." – Dan Fogelberg (1951-2007)

To each family, each mother, in that unwanted but hopeful sisterhood called Gold Star Mothers, I offer the words of St. Paul as a prayer:

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV).

For anyone interested in visiting our Vimeo site to experience the musical video “Beneath the Deep,” here is the location:

Lord, grant healing to the open wounds of all those who lost a loved one in the defense of our nation. We especially ask that Thou wouldst minister comfort to our Gold Star Mothers on this day. May our song and presentation of it express Thy love to those who bear the unimaginable loss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.