House Concurrent Resolution 48

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OBSERVING AND RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 9, 2025, AS "GOLD STAR FATHER'S DAY" TO HONOR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FALLEN OR PERMANENTLY DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FATHERS.

WHEREAS, November 9, is the day for observance of "Gold Star Father's Day" to honor the fathers of fallen or permanently disabled members of the United States Armed Forces and celebrate their relationship; and

WHEREAS, the goals of "Gold Star Father's Day" on November 9, are to honor and celebrate fathers who have lost children in service to the United States, honor fathers of fallen members of the Armed Forces and recognize that they, as parents, have experienced extraordinary and unimaginable loss, recognize the need to support families of members of the Armed Forces throughout the United States and honor the courage of fathers who understand the true price of freedom and now face Father's Day without their child or children; and

WHEREAS, thousands of men and women have laid down their lives to defend the liberty and soul of our Nation, and families of fallen members of the United States Armed Forces have lost their loved ones in service to our country; and

WHEREAS, families of members of the Armed Forces demonstrate a different kind of heroism, supporting children and family members while loved ones are deployed, sacrificing holidays with members who are serving overseas, and facing each day knowing their loved one might be in danger and could never return home; and

WHEREAS, before the Iraq war, the United States had lost over 1,300,000 members of the Armed Forces during wartime, and, since October 2001, over 4,400 members of the Armed Forces have lost their lives serving this country, leaving thousands of family members behind; and

WHEREAS, in 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day; and

WHEREAS, in 2015, the Gold Star Fathers Act was signed into law to ensure Gold Star Fathers were eligible for the same benefits guaranteed to mothers of fallen or permanently disabled members of the Armed Forces, honoring their sacrifice and loss, but this legislation did not designate a Gold Star Father's Day; and

WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., designated September 25, 2022, as Gold Star Mother's and Family Day, President Donald Trump designated September 24, 2017, as Gold Star Mother's and Family Day, and President Barack Obama proclaimed September 25, 2016, as Gold Star Mother's and Family Day; and

WHEREAS, on March 24, 2017, the Georgia House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 723, recognizing November 9, as Georgia Gold Star Father's Day; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to honor fallen soldiers who served this country and their fathers who loved them:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby observe and recognize November 9, 2025, as "Gold Star Father's Day" to honor and celebrate fathers who have lost children in service to the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi Veterans Affairs and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.