26-04-2025
Gold Star Mothers memorial unveiled in Cayuga County
TOWN OF BRUTUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A Gold Star Mothers and Blue Star Families memorial was unveiled during Friday's ceremony in Cayuga County.
Gold Star Mothers can now celebrate the lives of their sons and daughters who paid the ultimate sacrifice at a new memorial.
'A lot of the Gold Star mothers, their children are interred in Washington. So they have no local place to come. So now they do have a place where they may come that's closer to their home,' said Dr. Linda Townsend, organizer for the Cayuga County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee.
The monument stands just a few feet away from the Veterans Memorial at Aqueduct Park in the town of Brutus, close to Gold Star Mom Tammy Bell of Auburn.
'To have this in Cayuga County, it's amazing,' said Bell.
Bell lost her son, Jerry, in 2008. He was killed on September 19 in Afghanistan, while serving as a Sergeant with the First Division United States Marine Corps.
'He was a great man. A great son, good kid. Good dad, loved being in the Marines, he loved his family,' said Bell.
'Too often times we forget there's another side of not just losing a soldier, but it's the family that's left behind,' said Townsend.
The monument also tells the story of Blue Star Families.
'Our monument here has turned into a sign of reflection and gatherings and celebrations of life for many people across the county and people across New York State that do stop by here,' said Townsend.
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