The Blue Star Mothers of America is a national organization of mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and female legal guardians who have a family member serving in the military, guard or reserves or who are veterans.
It was founded in Flint in 1942 and has grown to over 200 chapters nationwide.
The organization supports troops, honors veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, visits the injured in hospitals, and provides support to families who have lost a loved one in service.
Previously in Michigan, a member of the state legislature had to sponsor a resolution annually to honor the work of the Blue Star Mothers, but a bill signed into law this week now designates February 1st each year as "Blue Star Mothers Day.”
The goal is to raise awareness of the work the organization does on behalf of service members and their families, and to promote resources available to them.