By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter

jevans@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — Ann Hampton did not know what a Gold Star Mother was until she became one.

“Back in World War I, mothers started hanging gold stars in their windows when they lost a child in the military,” she said. “There were a lot of gold stars hanging then.”

In 1928, the official American Gold Star Mothers organization started.

“The mission was to support grieving families, provide services to wounded soldiers,” Hampton said.

The Gold Star Mothers have “a mutual bond,” she said.

“We don’t want anyone else to join,” Hampton said. “We don’t want to be a member, but unfortunately we are.

The mothers “stand tall,” she said.

“We honor our children,” Hampton said. “We honor their sacrifice.”

Hampton spoke last week at the Easley Friends of the Library’s annual meeting, held at the Capt. Kimberly

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