On November 9, 1967 PFC Jerry Wayne Gentry of B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, aided his wounded comrades by carrying them to safety.  Then he attempted to climb onto a vehicle and return fire only to be mortally wounded.  He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry and unselfish devotion to duty.

Forty years later I was privileged to meet Mrs. Doris Gentry, Jerry's mother, who waited until May 24, 2007 to receive her Gold Star service flag.

With her soft white hair gleaming in the sun along with her gentle face and smile, this petite mom still appeared strong.  She was accompanied by her two surviving daughters, other family members, and several hundred strangers.  The occasion was made possible by the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, whose mission is to promote patriotism and sponsor activities of a patriotic nature among the business community, to recognize those who served and honor those who gave their lives in the Vietnam war; and to promote the positive image of the Vietnam veteran, their dependents and the widows and orphans of deceased Vietnam veterans.

Each year since 1987 this organization of great Americans has honored Georgia's fallen Vietnam heroes and their families by dedicating memorial sites throughout Atlanta and the surrounding area.  The 2007 dedication in memory of PFC Gentry was held at Friendship Plaza, downtown Cartersville, Gentry's hometown where his mom still resides.

In this quaint patriotic community the train still roars through several times each day.  Beside the train depot stands a cut stone etched with a flag, eagle, and the words "God Bless America, In memory of those who serve and protect our country."

After a patriotic concert and opening statements, comrades who were with Gentry the night he died shared their emotional and heartfelt memories, an exercise that the veterans and family said brought closure for them.  

To the side of the stage sat a group of Gold Star moms from across Georgia who had also experienced the death of a child in service to our nation in past and present wars.  I sat with two of my peers, Jan Johnson, mom of U.S. Army Specialist Justin Johnson who gave his life in Iraq, April 2004, and Stacey Holley, mom of U.S. Army Specialist Matthew Holley who gave his life, November, 2005.

After the dedication of the memorial monument now at Friendship Plaza in Cartersville, standing below the speaker's stage, Jan held a Gold Star Service Flag and Stacey held a Gold Star lapel pin as I stood at the podium and read these words:

Mrs. Gentry, in honor of your son and hero, U.S. Army PFC Jerry Wayne Gentry, we Gold Star mothers of this new century and new generation want to present you with this Gold Star Flag, the service flag created during WWI for families to hang in their homes in honor of loved ones killed while in service to our great country.

As stated in the history of the national organization of American Gold Star Mothers, Incorporated January 5, 1929:

"We stand tall and proud by honoring our children, assisting our veterans, supporting our nation, and healing with each other."

And as stated in the preamble to Public Resolution 123, 74th Congress, June 23, 1936:  'The American mother does much for the home and the moral and spiritual uplifting of the people of the United States, does good for government and humanity, and the American Gold Star Mothers have suffered the supreme sacrifice of motherhood in the loss of their sons and daughters."

Mrs. Gentry, we Gold Star Mothers of today know the depths of your broken heart and the scar that forever remains.  And we are honored to stand in support of you today with pride and thanks to you for your supreme sacrifice made in 1967 on behalf of our great country.

Please accept our condolences regarding the death of your son.  We now present you with this service flag which holds the blue star that represents hope and pride and the gold star that represents liberty and freedom. 

We will never forget your son and hero, PFC Jerry Wayne Gentry.  We will never forget you.

Jan and Stacy then presented the flag and pin to this Vietnam war mom who for forty years believed she, her son, and family had been forgotten; a mom and family that wasn't sure at first about accepting to have their fallen hero and family honored by the AVVBA; a mom with other children who had never experienced the support of peers as they lived their own hell. This mom said through tears, "I always saw blue and gold star flags in homes during WWII when my daddy served.  I always wondered why I never had one during Vietnam."

Then with smiles and tears of gratitude, Mrs. Gentry and family accepted all that they had earned since November 9, 1967.  They knew, finally and for sure, that they were no longer alone, thanks to these brave heroes from another era who themselves had felt unappreciated, but who found the strength to carry the memory of their comrades forward.

The Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association provided a gift greater than they will ever comprehend as they have now linked the past to the present. And together we moms, dads, and other family members will continue the journey of healing, carrying forward honor and love for our children, their comrades, the fallen, wounded, and those heroes continuing to serve this nation on our behalf. May our past and present always remain linked, and may no family ever be forgotten.