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Gold Star Mother Exhibit Arrives at War Memorial in Syracuse

John Smith/WAER News

American Gold Star Mothers here in Central New York were recognized on Thursday at the Onondaga County War Memorial with a new exhibit in their honor.  The Mothers offer support to one another as they carry on the memory of their sons or daughters who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.  A ceremony was held before the grand unveiling of the life-like display of a Mother dressed in a white uniform.  State President Carrie Farley describes how she lost her son Derek in August of 2010.

My son was killed in action in Afghanistan while working on a bomb… with just two weeks before he was to come home.”

Farley says she felt lost afterwards until she met a special person who she could relate to.

“I was introduced to a Vietnam Mother who had done the Chapter President of the Albany Chapter for years.  The minute she grabbed my hand, there was somebody else that was just like me.”

Mary Bergen has spent nearly the rest of her life as a Gold Star Mother since her son, 21 year-old Errold Ferrar died serving our country. 

My son was killed in 1969, Vietnam.  So, I joined shortly after.  You don’t join right off ‘cause all you do is cry.”

Credit John Smith/WAER News
Gold Star Mothers from Central New York hold photos of their loved ones who died while serving our country.

After the ribbon cutting for the exhibit with a life-like statue of a Gold Star Mother, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney reflected on the reality of their sacrifices.

“It’s not a club that anybody wants to belong to.  And they’re such an impressive group of women.  Their husbands were in the audience.  The fact that they now see their role as helping other service people.  It’s just tremendous the people that we have living here in our community.”

For more information about the Gold Star Mothers click here

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.