Blue Star Mothers band together Published Aug. 14, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Barbara Sies doesn't know her son's Navy rank. But, that doesn't stop her from wearing a homemade round button with a picture of him in his uniform. Nor will it prevent her from talking about the wife and child he left behind while he is deployed. And it doesn't hinder her from reaching out toward mothers of other military members. Ms. Sies (pronounced Cease) is a Blue Star Mother. She is one of thousands of women throughout the country who belongs to Blue Star Mothers of America, a nonprofit organization that supports families and fellow mothers of children who serve or have served in the military. Together, they send care packages to military members, attend funerals, grieve with families and provide comfort to families and friends of military members. "We're therapy for when our sons and daughters are deployed," said Cindy Hood, South Oklahoma City Chapter president. Ms. Hood has a son in the Army Reserves and another serving in the Marines. "We're there for each other and we always reach out. Moms want to be supportive." Blue Star Mothers are most notably recognized by their trademark indoor service flag - a white flag with red border and single blue star in the center. The star denotes a child serving in the military. The number of stars can vary, depending on how many children a mother has in the military. Additionally, not all stars are blue. Some are gold. Gold signifies a child who was killed in action or died while in serving. The flag can be hung in a window by an immediate family member during any period of conflict in which the U.S. military is engaged. The service flag made its debut in 1918 when Army Capt. Robert Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry designed and patented the flag for his two sons, who were serving on the front lines of World War I. But, the organization wasn't founded until 1942. Categorized as a veteran service organization, the group's purpose is to preserve the memory of men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, the organization also aids unsupported mothers, promotes patriotism, assists in veteran's ceremonies and fosters democracy. Oklahoma has 16 chapters, two of which serve the Oklahoma City metro. Though many of the women only know one another because of the organization, they are not shy about introducing other military mothers to the Blue Star Mother mission or telling their personal stories. Linda Rackett's son joined the Army in 2003 and has since been deployed seven times. Though he returned from his most recent deployment last summer and is currently stationed in Fort Lewis, Wash., Ms. Rackett said she stays active in the organization because she loves volunteering and it has helped get her through the tough times. Diane Carkhuff, of the 639th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron, has a daughter-in-law in the Army, who in 2010 is scheduled to leave for her first deployment. Ms. Carkhuff also has a son who was a reservist in the Marines until he separated in 2006. "It's a wonderful organization and the women are so wonderful," Ms. Carkhuff said. "It's great to have friends who care about each other and the nation." Among the hardest of the stories to hear, could be Vicki Lehew's. She is a gold-star mother, who got involved in the organization after she learned of her son's death. Her son, an Army corporal, died in Iraq this past March when his convoy was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. "Being involved is the right thing to do," she said. "These mothers get together despite their busy schedules for strangers. I would have been involved before [my son's death] if I had known about it." Among the newest members of the South Oklahoma City chapter is Stacia Gillett, wife of Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Commander Maj. Gen. David Gillett. The couple's son is a captain in the Marines. Ms. Gillett said she's been aware of the organization for years and has blue star flag pins that date back to World War I. Furthermore, when her son first deployed in 2007, Ms. Gillett ordered the necessary fabric and hand-stitched several service flags. She sent the flags to friends and families. But, it wasn't until the Gilletts relocated to Tinker this past January that she decided to become more involved with the Blue Star Mother organization. Ms. Gillett attended her first meeting in July. "I just wanted to see all they did," Ms. Gillett said. "They are a group of unselfish women, willing to donate their time and energy to support mothers who have sons and daughters serving in the military."