Blue Star Mothers serving Maricopa, Pinal, Pima counties seeking new members, supporters

Blue Star Mothers serving Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties elect new officers, welcome military families, mothers, veterans and supporters to join. New officers have been elected for the 2022-2023 season: President, Veronica Sanchez; Vice President, Tonya Mathews; Financial Secretary, Stephanie Winner; Recording Secretary, Bridgette Crosby; and Treasurer, Angela Walls. 

 

"We would love to welcome anyone interested from Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Apache Junction, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Florence and Coolidge," said San Tan Valley resident Bridgette Crosby, recording secretary of Blue Star Mothers. “Our mission is to support each other and our children in our journey as a military family. We assist local veteran organizations, teach and promote patriotism in our community. We honor all men and women serving, those who have served our country as members of all branches of the armed services."

Blue Star Mothers started at the outbreak of World War II, mothers of servicemen volunteered in hospitals, communities and train stations. They supported each other, loved ones, family and friends as their sons and daughters went off to war. At wars end, they supported the troops as they returned home.

 

Mothers hosted packing parties and sent countless care packages around the world and showed their pride by hanging Blue Star flags in their windows. Since then, Blue Star Mothers have grown and continue to share their pride, strength and courage for children, military families and veterans.

 

Today, Blue Star Mothers is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports mothers who have children serving from all branches of the military. Receiving an official charter from Congress in 1960, Blue Star Mothers currently has 6,000 members in 200 chapters across the U.S.

 

In Arizona, there are two main chapters, AZ7 that serves the East Valley and AZ4 that serves the West Valley. Chapter AZ7 serves and supports mothers and veterans in Pinal, Pima and Maricopa counties. It has members in Casa Grande, Coolidge, Maricopa, Florence, Chandler, Gilbert and San Tan Valley. 

 

Military mothers, veterans and military families from Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties are welcome and encouraged to come meet others for support and camaraderie. Members meet every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Maricopa Community Center/Veterans Center, 41614 W. Smith Enke Road, Ste 110,  in Maricopa. A Zoom option is offered for members around the state. Meetings are times to lend support, to organize fundraisers, events and packing parties where items are gathered and sent around the world to our troops.

Deployments can be a time of anxiety and stress for the entire family. Every news report involving the military can trigger worry, sadness, frustration, fear. When they hear reports, members wait on pins and needles for reassurance and try to be brave until they know for sure that their child is okay. Many people don’t realize the continual stress that families go through when a loved one serves. 

Often times, Blue Star Mothers turn into Gold Star Mothers. That happens when loved ones don’t return home safely. Community support is then needed more than ever. They honor and lift up those who have given their lives for our country. 

Saturday, Nov. 19 is their Christmas Care Package Packing Party where you can sponsor a care package, donate items for the troops or make homemade gifts to send. Then Dec. 17 is Wreaths Across America where you can sponsor a wreath to remember a veteran and get one free for your home. Donations to purchase items for care packages to troops are welcomed and are tax-deductible. For more information, email [email protected] or contact Crosby at 480-235-8388