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Gold Star FamiliesDEDICATION & RIBBON CUTTINGFOR THE PENTAGON DISPLAYOctober 29, 202011:00 - 11:30 - The Pentagon Channel
Gold Star Families DedicationRIBBON CUTTING FOR THE PENTAGON DISPLAYOctober 29, 202011:00 - 11:30 - The Pentagon Channel WELCOMEMASTER OF CEREMONIESSharlene W. HawkesDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & ReadinessNATIONAL ANTHEMMariah SmithGold Star SisterINVOCATIONThe Reverend David HortonGold Star FatherREMARKSThe Honorable Matthew P. DonovanUnder Secretary of Defense for Personnel and ReadinessREMARKSGeneral Mark A. MilleyChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffREMARKSJane HortonGold Star WifeSenior Advisor, International Security AffairsOffice of the Secretary of DefenseRIBBON CUTTING DEDICATIONMr. Donovan, General Milley, and Ms. HortonCONCLUSION1
THE HONORABLE MATTHEW P. DONOVAN2GENERAL MARK A. MILLEYUnder Secretary of Defense for Personnel and ReadinessChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Honorable Matthew P. Donovan is the Under Secretary of Defense forPersonnel and Readiness. Mr. Donovan serves as the principal staff assistant andadvisor to the Secretary of Defense for force readiness; force management; healthaffairs; National Guard and Reserve component affairs; education and training;and military and civilian personnel requirements and management, including equalopportunity, morale, welfare, recreation, and quality of life matters.A Presidential appointee confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2020, Mr.Donovan provides policy, guidance, and oversight for the readiness, management,and healthcare of the Department’s over 6 million total force Service members,retirees, their families, and the civilian workforce.In his previous capacity, Mr. Donovan served as the Under Secretary of the AirForce from August 2017 until March 2020 and as the Acting Secretary of the AirForce from June 2019 until October 2019.Prior to his tenure as the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Mr. Donovan wasmajority policy director and professional staff member on the U. S. SenateCommittee on Armed Services. In those positions he provided advice, counsel, andrecommendations to the committee chairman on global regional security affairs, aswell as matters related to readiness and sustainment programs for the Army, Navy,Air Force, and Marine Corps.Mr. Donovan retired from the United States Air Force as a colonel after 31 yearsof enlisted and officer active duty service. He is a command pilot with over 2,900hours of flight time in the F-15C Eagle and the F-5E Tiger II.Mr. Donovan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in technical management fromRegis University. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in management fromWebster University, a Master of Arts degree in Airpower Art and Science fromthe USAF School of Advanced Airpower Studies, and a Master of Arts degree inMilitary Arts and Sciences from the Advanced Operational Art Studies Fellowship,U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies.General Mark A. Milley is the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thenation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to thePresident, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.Prior to becoming Chairman on October 1, 2019, General Milley served as the 39thChief of Staff of the U.S. Army.A native of Massachusetts, General Milley graduated from Princeton University in1980, where he received his commission from Army ROTC.General Milley has had multiple command and staff positions in eight divisionsand Special Forces throughout the last 39 years to include command of the 1stBattalion, 506th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division; the 2nd Brigade, 10th MountainDivision; Deputy Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault);Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division; Commanding General, III Corps;and Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command.While serving as the Commanding General, III Corps, General Milley deployed asthe Commanding General, International Security Assistance Force Joint Commandand Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Forces Afghanistan. General Milley’s jointassignments also include the Joint Staff operations directorate and as a MilitaryAssistant to the Secretary of Defense.General Milley’s operational deployments include the Multi-National Forceand Observers, Sinai, Egypt; Operation Just Cause, Panama; Operation UpholdDemocracy, Haiti; Operation Joint Endeavor, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation IraqiFreedom, Iraq; and three tours during Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.He also deployed to Somalia and Colombia.In addition to his bachelor’s degree in political science from Princeton University,General Milley has a master’s degree in international relations from ColumbiaUniversity and one from the U.S. Naval War College in national security andstrategic studies. He is also a graduate of the MIT Seminar XXI National SecurityStudies Program.General Milley and his wife, Hollyanne, have been married for more than 34 yearsand have two children.3
JANE HORTONSenior Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense,International Security Affairs OfficeMs. Jane Horton is a Presidential Appointee, currently serving as a Senior Advisor inthe Office of the Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs Office, WashingtonDC, the Pentagon. Previously, she served for over two years as a Senior Advisor in theOffice of the Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness Office. In this capacity, Ms.Horton advised on matters ranging from civilian and military personnel policy to militarycommunity and family policy as well as leading efforts to advance Gold Star familyinitiatives and warfighter brain health. Prior to this position, Ms. Horton served as theCongressional and Military Liaison for the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington DC.As a personal advisor, Ms. Horton provided guidance and oversight for national, regionaland international partner engagements to advance equities and manage interactionswith visiting delegations worldwide. Additionally, Ms. Horton has served as a policyconsultant to the Travis Manion Foundation, the Advisory Board to the IndependenceFund, Freedom Hunters, Remember My Service, Medals of Honor and the Global Waron Terrorism Memorial Foundation.PASTOR DAVID HORTONPastor David Horton is the Gold Star father to SPC Christopher Horton, an Armysniper who was killed in action in Afghanistan on September 9, 2011. David hasbeen in the ministry for over 35 years, preaching around the world in varied venuesincluding open air crusades, tent meetings and seminars.Pastor David has been the lead pastor at Grace Harvest since 2013, and has a visionto reach Holiday, Florida and surrounding communities with the gospel message ofgrace, faith and hope. Pastor David is an ordained Bishop with the Church of God(Cleveland, TN) as well as an ordained minister with Rhema Ministerial AssociationInternational. He is the author of several published books and has appeared onvarious Christian television programs, including the Trinity Broadcasting Network.He is president of David Horton Ministries, his evangelistic missions organization.Ms. Horton’s diverse career includes extensive experience in political, security andlegislative relations serving as a contributing writer for publications such as Taskand Purpose and has been featured on ABC, The Drudge Report, Huffington Post,USA Today, The Blaze, Fox and Friends, CNN, The Dennis Miller Show, Huckabee,Hannity, the Washington Examiner, Special Report by Brett Baier, Kelly File, alongwith numerous other paper publications and public appearances. Furthermore, as aproud native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. Horton has extensive leadership in military andveteran advocacy and a passion for service, dedicating over 12,000 hours to Gold Starfamily and survivor populations. Some notable achievements include championing theextension of the Fry Scholarship to surviving spouses, The Sergeant First Class SeanCooley and Specialist Christopher Horton Congressional Gold Star Family FellowshipProgram Act, and several laws in multiple National Defense Authorizations Actsregarding Gold Star, surviving family, and casualty policy. She has advised seniormilitary and congressional leaders across the globe and earned multiple awards for hercommunity and civilian service.Ms. Horton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from RogersState University and a certificate in International Studies from Harvest Brisbane,Australia. Ms. Jane Horton is also the Gold Star Wife of SPC Christopher Horton, anArmy sniper killed in action on 9 September 2011 in Patkia, Afghanistan.45
Gold Star FamiliesDEDICATION & RIBBON CUTTINGFOR THE PENTAGON DISPLAYOctober 29, 202011:00 - 11:30 - The Pentagon ChannelGOLD STAR CEREMONY PARTICIPANTS:Mariah SmithGold Star sister of Navy Senior Chief ShannonKent, killed in action in Syria onJanuary 16, 2019The Reverend David HortonGold Star father of SPC Christopher Horton,killed in action in Afghanistan onSeptember 9, 2011Jane HortonGold Star wife of SPC Christopher Horton, killedin action in Afghanistan onSeptember 9, 2011COL Rebecca EggersGold Star wife of Captain Dan Eggers, killed inaction in Afghanistan onMay 29, 200467
SYMBOLS OF SACRIFICE: SERVICE FLAGAND GOLD STAR LAPEL BUTTON8Use of the Gold Star symbol began during World War I. At thestart of the American involvement in 1917, families hung bannerswith blue stars representing immediate family members servingin the military. If the Service member died while serving, thefamily changed the blue star to gold. The blue star represents hopeand pride, while the gold star represents sacrifice to the cause ofliberty and freedom.design for a service flag for display” in the windows of Servicemembers’ immediate family during the current war. In 1943,the War Department published its initial Service Flag guidance,which stated, “If the individual symbolized is killed or dieswhile serving, from causes other than dishonorable, the starrepresenting that individual will have superimposed thereon agold star of smaller size so that the blue forms a border.” Today’sService Flag guidance is essentially the same, authorizing displayof a gold star “if the Service member symbolized is killed or diesfrom causes other than dishonorable.”On October 17, 1942, the Congress memorialized this practiceby passing an act directing the War Department “to approve aIn 1947, Congress authorized the Department of Defense to issueGold Star Lapel Buttons to identify the widows, parents, and9
next of kin of members of the armed forces of the United Stateswho lost their lives while in military service. Over the years,Gold Star Lapel Button statutory changes limited eligibility forconflicts after March 28, 1973, to the next of kin of membersof the armed forces who lost their lives while: 1) engaged inan action against an enemy of the U.S.; 2) engaged in militaryoperations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force;and 3) serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armedconflict in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party againstan opposing armed force. Subsequent changes also expandedeligibility to include families of Service members who losttheir lives as a result of international terrorist attacks, or whileserving as part of a peacekeeping force.The Gold Star Lapel Button was modeled after the traditionalbanners hanging in families’ windows and consists of a goldstar against a purple field, surrounded by laurel leaves. Theuse of laurel leaves dates back to ancient Greece and generallysymbolizes victory, while the color purple has long beenassociated with mourning and spirituality.These gold stars help provide knowledge and recognition to thefamilies who have lost loved ones in service to our Nation.10The Making of the Gold Star Display:The Gold Star Families Display is a tribute not only to the men andwomen who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation, but tothe families they leave behind that serve as their living legacies.The display provides the history and meaning of the Gold Star on theService Flag and the Gold Star Lapel Button, and features a rotating storyof a Gold Star family. The display features multiple Gold Star familieswho have continued to give back to the military community like Seanaand Alston Arrechaga, wife and son of SSG Ofren Arrechaga, killed inaction March 28, 2011 in Afghanistan.The Gold Star Service Flag featured in the display was hand-sewn byGold Star mothers Betty Sue Vincent and Tammy Clark in honor of theirsons PFC Donald Wayne Vincent and LCLP Philip Paul Clark, both ofwhom were killed in action in Afghanistan. Betsy, Devin, Preston, andPriscilla Farmer, the children of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Farmer,who was killed in action in Syria on January 16, 2019, also helped pick outcolors and designs for the display.The display was created by Jane Horton, Gold Star wife of SPC ChristopherHorton, killed in action on September 9, 2011, in Afghanistan.We are also joined today in uniform by Colonel Rebecca Eggers, GoldStar wife of Captain Dan Eggers, who was killed in action on May 29,2004, in Afghanistan.11
KELLY SULLIVAN LOUGHRENA Great Granddaughter’s TributeMy great grandparents, Tom and Alleta Sullivan, became Gold Starparents when their five boys were all killed onboard the USS Juneauduring World War II. My great grandfather went to work on theIllinois Central Railroad the day that he found out that all five of hissons were killed. Why didn’t he stay home and grieve? His train wascarrying war freight for the troops and he wanted to make sure theyreceived it so they had what they needed to continue to serve.My great grandparents felt an obligation when they became a GoldStar family. My great grandmother always said, “My boys did notdie in vain.” They did a yearlong tour around the country selling warbonds. They wanted to help the war effort. They wanted to helpboost the morale of the American people during the tough times ofwar.The Sullivan home ended up having many Sailors visit throughout theyears. Most of these Sailors were strangers to my great grandparents.They were on leave and wanted to come visit to pay their respects andoffer their sympathies to the Sullivan family. My great grandmotherwould host many Sailors who showed up at her doorstep at 98 AdamsStreet in Waterloo, Iowa. My great grandmother, being the goodIrish lady that she was, would invite them in for dinner, and my greatgrandfather would offer them a beer. One Sailor stayed and enjoyedthe Sullivan hospitality for 6 months.My great Aunt Genevieve, the only child left after all five of herbrothers were killed, felt despite her and her family’s incrediblesacrifice, she had strong obligations to her country. She knew that shewas now the only child to help take care of her mom and dad. Shealso wanted to continue with the Sullivan patriotic spirit and joinedthe Navy Waves shortly after the family learned that the boys hadgone down with the USS JUNEAU. She also felt it was important toalways be the best she could be. She knew she was a Gold Star familymember and worked hard to be a proper lady and make good choices.felt a deep emptiness in his life. He was only a baby when his dad waskilled in the war. He had no memory of him. My dad felt the loss ofnot having a father. He also felt a strong desire to serve his countryas his dad and uncles did. My dad joined the Navy when he was only17 years old. When people ask him why he did that he always says, “Ithought I had to.”When I was growing up I could always tell that my family wasdifferent. I remember going to a friend’s family reunion with her whenI was just a little girl. I couldn’t believe how many people were there.She had so many cousins her age to play with. I was sadly jealous.At our Christmas gatherings it was only my grandma Katherine Mary,my dad, my brother, John, and me. People don’t seem to grasp thegenerational impact of the loss of the five boys. We don’t have thehuge Irish Catholic family that we might have had if even one of thebrothers had survived. I can also vividly remember going to my firstsporting event. They played the national anthem. When they sang thebombs bursting in air, I started to cry thinking of the night Battle ofGuadalcanal that my grandfather and his brothers were in. I lookedaround at me and wondered why other people weren’t crying at thisamazing song.Being a Gold Star family member is bittersweet. It is something thatyou would never wish on anyone. There is a sadness and emptinessthat is always there. There is also this beautiful and amazing feelingof pride and patriotism. I don’t like what happened to my family but Ialso know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without that tragedy. Itmakes us love more. It makes us appreciate more. It makes us knowhow blessed we are to live in the greatest country.My dad, Jim Sullivan, the only child born of the five Sullivan brothers,1213
Air Force, and Marine Corps. Mr. Donovan retired from the United States Air Force as a colonel after 31 years of enlisted and officer active duty service. He is a command pilot with over 2,900 hours of flight time in the F-15C Eagle and the F-5E Tiger II. Mr. Donovan holds a Bachelor of Scie
