Sam Williams
News Editor
11/14/08

Blue Star Mothers of America, a support group for the mothers of members of the United States Armed Forces, is now forming in Lassen County.

The non-partisan, non-political and non-profit group will hold an organizational meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Susanville. Mothers, family members and friends of those serving in the armed forces are invited to attend.

Christine Boyd, whose son may soon deploy to Iraq, said the group hopes to recruit members from Lassen, Plumas and Modoc counties, but eventually members from the other counties may want to form their own groups.

“If people want more information, they could go to the group’s Web site at bluestarmothers.org,” Boyd said. “If you Google Blue Star Mothers, there’s information all over the Web to help you see what the organization is.”

The Blue Star Mothers is a support and service group for the family members of those serving in the military, Boyd said. The group provides a great opportunity to meet, unite, share a special moment and offer each other support, understanding and solidarity.

Boyd hopes the newly formed group will undertake a number of activities including adopting individual soldiers and units stationed overseas, welcoming soldiers returning from overseas at Reno International Airport, collecting and distributing toys for needy military children in Lassen and Plumas counties, soliciting and collecting Christmas cards and Valentines cards and sending them to the troops, connecting businesses with soldiers’ families in need, promoting the group’s existence and purpose, participating in American Legion and veterans organizations’ events, participating in parades and showing support for the troops, assisting the public at large in the sending of care packages, sending care packages to our troops, conducting fundraisers and recruiting new members for the group.

For more information, call Staff Sgt. Lyman Moak at 257-5085 or (877) 245-4194.