Blue Star group to meet in Sheboygan Saturday

The city of Sheboygan will welcome the Blue Star Mothers of Southeast Wisconsin and the Blue Star Families to King Park Saturday, Sept. 11.

About 100 of Wisconsin’s Blue Star Mothers and associate members will gather to offer support to mothers and families with daughters and sons currently deployed on military duty or returning home as veterans.

As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Mayor Bob Ryan is honored to host this event. “Sheboygan offers a welcoming environment for these families who are meeting for such a noble cause,” Ryan said in a press release announcing the event.

Blue Star Mothers formed during World War I when mothers with sons on active duty began organizing to send packages to service members overseas. They also volunteered time to visit wounded soldiers in hospitals and were an active part in homeland security.

In 1942, they were recognized by Congress as an official organization.

Sue Gourdoux, president of the SE Wisconsin chapter, said, “We’re very excited to meet in Sheboygan. We have families spread along the lakeshore and beyond, and Sheboygan provides a great halfway point for us to gather. Sheboygan also provides us the perfect opportunity to reach out to more families.

“Blue Star mothers offer support to mothers and families who have children on active duty or have lost children during active duty,” she continued. “We also welcome home our sons and daughters and offer any kind of support we can to military families and our children away from home. It’s important for us that Wisconsin military families and our veterans know we’re here for them.”

The group will gather at King Park for most of the day Saturday. Anyone interested in learning more about the organization is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Gourdoux at (262) 884-8016.

Blue Mothers is a non-partisan, non-political, non-profit organization established in 1942. For more information about its history and mission visit www.bluestarmothers.org.