A Gold Star Mother's photo journey.....
My name is Kathryn T. Cross and I am a Gold Star Mother. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this terminology, we are the mothers of the Military Service Members lost while serving our country on active duty. My son Tyler was lost while serving in the United States Navy on January 15, 2002 in Keflavik, Iceland.
As Gold Star Mothers and volunteers we serve to provide support for our veteran and military communities through local, state and national service in VA hospitals, local schools, programs of remembrance and many other programs of support in hopes that through our efforts those who so bravely serve and their families may always know that a grateful nation never forgets the sacrifices they have endured for us all.
Today I serve as a VAVS (Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service) Volunteer and Hospital Representative for the Manhattan VA Hospital. I am also a member of American Gold Star Mothers, a board member of the United War Veterans Council of New York City, member of the National Art Club and founder of, The Tribute Journey. It is with great pride that I join my fellow Gold Star Mothers, Veteran friends and the many other volunteers as we serve our military and veteran communities.
To those of you who have come to visit me here and are presently serving our country, I thank you for your service. For those of you who served in Vietnam, I would like to express to you and the many others who have served and felt unwelcome returning home, welcome home we are so very proud of you. May you know that your nation is grateful for your selfless sacrifices and may peace find its home in your hearts.
This picture gallery is dedicated to friends who have lost their loved ones through military service, our families and those who proudly serve with me as volunteers to support our Military and Veteran communities. * The gallery will be updated on a regular bases as photos become available.
In Memory of my Canadian friends and their sons.
Beautiful Beechwood National Cemetery
Ottawa, Canada
Jane Byers and her son David
Johanne Paquette and her son Jonathan
Richard & Claire Legere and their son Marc
Magic moments of giving and sharing
as a Gold Star Mom..........
2011 Holiday Season
The very first Wreaths Across Canada Ceremony
December 4th, 2011
Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
with Silver Cross Mother and Father Richard and Claire Legere
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Holiday visit to the James J. Peters VA Medical Center
with friends from UHaul
Bronx, New York
Battery Park Holiday Memorial Program and
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza Hero Trees
at 55 Water Street
Manhattan, New York
A very special place in Maine
Remembering an incredible woman who once served her country
and then the rest of her life served the lord.
Holiday Greetings for our Heroes 2011
we printed the greeting cards and packed everything up even the 10ft tree.....
............stopped along the way to bring Christmas cheer and decorate a tree for Gold Star friend Sophy in Manhattan......
Soon as we got there we were off to work putting up the Heroes Tree for our Veterans
at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C.
A very special place filled with very special people,
there was a beautiful ceremony and lovely reception to follow and the room filled quickly with holiday cheer!....
Friends from Andrews Air Force Base and Quantico joined us for the tree dedication and brought wonderful gifts for the residents.
After the formal dedication of our Heroes Tree we began to make gifts of Christmas music CD's donated generously by Tim Janis, greeting cards Hans and I made at home and candy canes beautifully tide with Christmas ribbons for each of the 415 residents of the retirement home.
A few of the residents came to join us as we worked like Elves into the night.......
After the formal dedication of our Heroes Tree we began to make gifts of Christmas music CD's donated generously by Tim Janis, greeting cards Hans and I made at home and candy canes beautifully tide with Christmas ribbons for each of the 415 residents of the retirement home.
A few of the residents came to join us as we worked like Elves into the night.......
......along came carolers a wonderful surprise and with them homemade cookies and cakes!...YUM!.....
...after the carolers we continued on with "operation elves".
and finished up early morning when we were finally on our way to Virginia to visit with the Marines....
and finished up early morning when we were finally on our way to Virginia to visit with the Marines....
We were all pretty tired by the time we finished up about 2:30am but we all agreed it was well worth the effort!
I understand that there were many, many happy folks when greeted Christmas Morning
with Cards, Candy Canes and the Beautiful Seasonal Music CD's composed by our friend Tim Janis!
* Thank you Tim Janis for your generous gift of music *
I understand that there were many, many happy folks when greeted Christmas Morning
with Cards, Candy Canes and the Beautiful Seasonal Music CD's composed by our friend Tim Janis!
* Thank you Tim Janis for your generous gift of music *
Portsmouth, Virginia UHaul Veterans Michelle (Marine), Ed (Army), and Jackie (Marine) with Hans and I made 40 Red Stockings for the Marines who remained in the area for Christmas at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center.
Thank You to all who helped make this wonderful trip possible.
Merry Christmas lads! We are so very proud of you!
To all who are serving this Holiday Season
We Thank you for your sacrifice and Military service. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We Thank you for your sacrifice and Military service. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
December 23rd & 24th, The Bell Ringers of The Salvation Army
Rockerfeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York
Mothers of the Fallen Memorial Service
St. Peter's Church
Sunday May 8th, 2011
Manhattan, New York
No greater love hath a Mother
than that which she holds
in her heart for her child.
New York City Viet Nam Veterans Memorial
What a very special day this was and what an honor
to participate in this beautiful memorial program with very special friends.
There were Veterans from all eras and ages to pay homage
to those who sacrificed all for the sake of freedom.
It was wonderful and sad, yet so honorable. Beautifully done.
Memorial Program presented by the United War Veterans Council
headquartered in New York City.
Proudly serving and supporting the Connecticut, New York and New Jersey
Military and Veteran community's.
to participate in this beautiful memorial program with very special friends.
There were Veterans from all eras and ages to pay homage
to those who sacrificed all for the sake of freedom.
It was wonderful and sad, yet so honorable. Beautifully done.
Memorial Program presented by the United War Veterans Council
headquartered in New York City.
Proudly serving and supporting the Connecticut, New York and New Jersey
Military and Veteran community's.
Valentine's Day
With friends
2011
Holiday projects 2010
Connecticut Fallen Heroes Foundation and the
Hall Elementary School children's Christmas Party
Bridgeport, Connecticut December 22, 2010
Connecticut Cookie Platoon Christmas Packing
Whelen Engineering, Chester, Connecticut
Hero Stars Project with GE & United War Veteran Council Volunteers
New York City
Remembering family and friends
James A. Kennedy
US Air Force Veteran
December 7, 2000
Annemarie L. Ferling Kennedy
August 26, 1998
Stephen Monroe
US Army Veteran
October 1999
Tyler J. (aka; Corky Jo) Connely
US Navy KOD Keflavik, Iceland
January 15, 2002
Friend in forground
Steven Deluzio
US Army KIA Afghanistan
April 24, 2010
US Air Force Veteran
December 7, 2000
Annemarie L. Ferling Kennedy
August 26, 1998
Stephen Monroe
US Army Veteran
October 1999
Tyler J. (aka; Corky Jo) Connely
US Navy KOD Keflavik, Iceland
January 15, 2002
Friend in forground
Steven Deluzio
US Army KIA Afghanistan
April 24, 2010
Old Saybrook, Connecticut's Hero Tree at the
Katherine Hepburn Theater
The Hero Trees at the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Plaza
55 Water Street, NYC
Placing of the Hero Stars Wreath
Steel Cross of 911
St. Peter's Cathedral, Church Street, NYC
The Field of Wreaths at Battery Park
Manhattan, NY December 2010
New York City Veteran's Day Parade with friends.
November 11, 2010
American Gold Star Mother and Past National President Dorothy Oxendine of Long Island, New York, myself - American Gold Star Mother Department President of Connecticut, American Gold Star Mother Department President of New York Georgian Davis of Buffalo, New York and L Capt Samuel Tate,
US Navy Commanding Officer NOSC New York behind us.
Candles and prayers, Washington D.C. 2010
Evening on the town....New York City, NY
The Moving Wall West Hartford, Connecticut 2010
Achilles Freedom Team, Hope and Possibilities 5m New York City 2010
The Korean Little Princesses, New York City, NY 2010
New England Gold Star Mothers Memorial by Andrew Chernak
Visiting the New England Gold Star Mothers Memorial Statue in Hartford, CT as it made it's trip from Gettysburg, PA to Manchester, NH where it will finally be located as a memorial tribute to the New England region Gold Star Mothers. Also photos from the escort journey.
September 11, 2010 New York City
Hero Stars Program at the September 11th Memorial Museum
Our First Motorcycle Run (Connecticut Gold Star Moms)
Connecticut Cookie Platoon and the Candy Brigade Christmas packing 2009
Deep River Fire Company, Deep River, Connecticut and Old Saybrook Fire House, Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Our Heroes Tree Project
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Honoring Allies Remembering Together (HART)
A program I scripted for the Civil Air Patrol Cadets and the Canadian Cadets
Calais, Maine/St. Stephens, New Brunswick Saturday, December 5, 2009
Harrington, Maine
The first American Gold Star Mother to travel with Wreaths Across America
December 2008
Patton Park 2009
Connecticut State Capitol Building, Hartford, Connecticut
Sikorsky Helicopter Plant, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Connecticut Fallen Heroes Foundation and the Children of Hall Elementary School
The Pentagon Memorial Park
Many hands join together to create a wonderful memorial display. A first of it's kind at the Pentagon Memorial.
Soldiers and Airmens Home National Cemetery, Washington D.C.
Battery Park - The Memorial Walk, New York City, NY December 12, 2009
A hope, a sketch an illustration a whole years worth of planning and many many volunteers to help,
becomes a beautiful Artistic Memorial display to be so proud of.
becomes a beautiful Artistic Memorial display to be so proud of.
Special moments at the VA hospital along the Wreaths Across America Trail...
Sharing the Christmas cards that I illustrated with the Military employees and Veterans at the VA hospital.
Staten Island, New York City, NY
U.S. Navy Chaplin Father Vincent Capodanno, Christmas
Home of our Gold Star Family
U.S. Navy Law Enforcement Specialist Tyler J. Connely and his mom, me.
In God we trust as we proudly serve our great nation.
