Gold Star Children, Then And Now

By: Amanda Winter Moore

Athens Now is pleased to welcome Amanda Winter Moore to our writing crew!

It’s a privilege for me to share a part of my journey with you. Before I can do that, however, I need to share with you a part of someone else’s journey. Had his story been written differently, I am sure that he would be seated amongst us tonight, participating in the endeavors here. As a career Marine, he had dedicated his life to the service of others. He strived to make a difference in the world, here and abroad. He loved God, he loved his family, he loved his country, and he loved the Marine Corps. For those things in which he believed, he possessed a sense of duty and a willingness to sacrifice. He found his calling in life as a United States Marine and was undeterred by the job’s inherent dangers. He knew that he might one day be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in the giving of his life for his country.

Ladies and gentlemen, that call came on October 23, 1983 in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, when a suicide bomber detonated a truck bomb in the lobby of the building that served as the barracks for the Marines in Beirut. And on that day, this Marine and two hundred and forty others there with him, answered that call. Far away from the land and the family that he loved so much, my dad, Major William Ellis Winter, gave his life in the name of peace. You see, the mission of the Marines in Beirut at that time was one of peace. The country of Lebanon was in the middle of a bloody civil war and there was no end in sight. It was believed that the presence of the Marines in Beirut could make a difference for the country of Lebanon, helping it to restore peace by providing the structure and stability necessary for fighting to cease and for the Lebanese government to reunite and rebuild. Their presence, however, was not welcomed by all. The Marines became the targets of militia groups who opposed their presence in Beirut. Yet they remained, unwavering, and determined to make a difference.

I’m proud to say that I inherited some of my dad’s desire to make a difference in the world around me. I fall into a unique demographic of people who comprise our nation’s population of adult Gold Star Children. Today’s younger Gold Star Children are blessed to have a multitude of resources available to them to help them cope with grief, to facilitate healing and to allow them to network with others who share similar losses. The Semper Fi Community Task Force of North Alabama is one such resource. Through their efforts, Gold Star Children are afforded the opportunity to participate in healing activities such as the annual Fishing Derby where they can fish and enjoy time spent in the company of other Gold Star Children and their families. The committed members of the Task Force, with much love and compassion, graciously volunteer their time and talents at the event.

My family and I were privileged to be able to attend the most recent Fishing Derby which took place last September. My children, as Gold Star Grandchildren, are somewhat removed from the sense of loss that stems from their grandfather’s death. Make no mistake, however, his absence from their lives is felt by them. We frequently participate in remembrance events together, and I knew that we would enjoy an afternoon spent fishing. I remember watching as one of my daughters struggled with the fish she had just caught. I had split my time that afternoon between all my children, and for that reason, I had not had the opportunity to meet the kind gentleman who was helping her remove the fish from the hook. I was struck by his presence, however, and suspected he was a Marine. When Mr. David Bonwit turned around to greet me, the Marine Corps emblem embroidered on his shirt confirmed what I had already known. He was, indeed, a Marine. Something else stuck out in my mind about this man, and when I asked his age, he confirmed another of my suspicions: He was the same number of years in age that my dad would have been had he had not been killed in Beirut. I was excited to share this knowledge with my children. It is significant for us, because in our mind’s eye and in the pictures that we have of my dad, he is frozen in time as a young man. What an awesome opportunity for us to have Mr. Bonwit filling in as a representation of their Granddaddy Bill.

The resources available to today’s Gold Star Children weren’t readily available to my generation. The journey to coping and healing was one that we took on our own. For me, the path has not always been an easy one to traverse. Yet I remain on the path, unwavering and determined to see its end. My hope is that I can help clear the way for others coming behind me, today’s Gold Star Children and tomorrow’s as well. I hope to make a difference by being a source of encouragement and strength for those whose journey is just beginning or for those who are struggling along their journey. I am thankful for this opportunity that has been so graciously given to me by the Semper Fi Community Task Force. Being allowed to share a part of my story with you is instrumental to healing. May we all endeavor to make a difference in the world around us. Thank you.

By: Amanda Winter Moore