MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

From Our Bylaws: Natural Mothers or adoptive mothers, who were citizens or legal residents of the United States or of the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States, at the time of their son's or daughter's induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose son or daughter became missing in action, died while on active duty, or died as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Stepmothers who are citizens or legal residents of the United States or of the Territorial and Insular Possessions of the United States, who assumed the responsibility of a son or daughter under the age of fifteen years, and reared this son and daughter, and who served and was missing in action or died while on active duty, or as a result of such service are eligible for membership in American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Gold Star Fathers, Gold Star Siblings, and Gold Star Grandparents are eligible to join as an Associate Member.
Associates will complete their own membership application. Associate Members pay no dues, hold no offices and may not vote.
An honorary membership to the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. may be granted to mothers who were not citizens at the time of their son's or daughter's induction into the United States Armed Forces and whose son or daughter died while on active duty, became missing in action, or died as a result of such service. They pay no dues, hold no office and have no vote.

The term Gold Star Mother refers to any mother who has lost a child in the service of our country.
An American Gold Star Mother is a Gold Star Mother who has joined the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. organization (AGSM).
AGSM is a private organization and can set its own membership rules. Our qualifications for membership have changed over the years. There is currently no requirement that your service member was killed in action or in a particular theater of operation to be a member.
Our Constitution and By Laws state:
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. is an organization of Mothers whose sons and daughters served and died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, or died as a result of such service, or were missing in action.
The DOD makes distinctions in determining which of the Gold Star Pins are awarded based on the manner and place of death but we do not. All served and all undertook the associated risks.