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Farewell, American war mothers

The North Carolina chapter of the American War Mothers will disband due to low membership

Burlington Times News
By Emily Silva
07.11.09

War typically divides people, but it brought these six women together.

And now they will disband.

The six are the last remaining members of the North Carolina chapter of the American War Mothers. Their husbands all served in the armed forces and their children followed suit.

Today, though, with no new members coming in, the North Carolina chapter is coming to and end. The last members just donated $30,112 to four state veterans administration hospitals, two nursing homes and the Fisher House, a temporary home for families of soldiers.

"It's our mother's duty to do that," said Kate Hearn, a member since 1971 and former national president.

The amount is a culmination of the money these women and previous members have raised over the past few years.

"This was their money that they had invested that we're now giving to the hospitals," explained Mary Jane Justice, a member for 20 years.

The money was their last donation as an organization and they specified that it be used solely for equipment to help rehabilitate wounded veterans.

"We love our country," Hearn said, "but we don't want our children to be serving in crisis as protection for our country. It's something else to go a veterans hospital and see the results of war."

SINCE ITS FOUNDING in 1917, the AWM has spent numerous hours volunteering in VA hospitals, bringing hot meals to veterans, and holding fundraising events in an effort to support those who go to war. Members have hosted bake sales, planted trees to raise money, and put together care packages to send to troops overseas.

Every Mother's Day, members come together at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. AWM members bring carnations to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The AWM flag is flown at half-staff over the cemetery that day, alongside the American flag.

Similarly, each Veterans Day, the AWM flag is flown at half-staff over the Capitol.

At functions and meetings, the organization uses its flower, the carnation, to recognize mothers who have children in the service, as well as mothers whose children have died in service. Gold star mothers have lost children in conflict and are given white carnations. Silver Star mothers' children have been injured in conflict. Mothers with children in the military receive red carnations.

"God and Jesus gave us our spiritual freedom," Hearn said. "A veteran goes to the front lines to give us our personal freedom."

The members of the N.C. chapter include Jane Ferrell, who lives at Twin Lakes retirement community in Burlington, Kate Hearn, Libby Huntley, Mary Jane Justice, Molene Sharpe and Rivers Shoffner.

For more information about the AWM, contact Kate Hearn at (919) 829-0921 or Jane Ferrell at (336) 226-7469.

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