Gold Star Lapel Button

A Gold Star Lapel Button in the United States is an official decoration authorized by an Act of Congress that is issued to the direct next of kin family members of service members whom lost their lives in WWI & WWII and subsequent armed hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States has been engaged in.

History
The Gold Star Lapel Button was established by Act of Congress, Public Law 80-306, in August 1947 for the public identification of the direct next of kin of military members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lost their lives of WWI & WWII and subsequent armed hostilities of the United States.

Award criteria
The issuance of the Gold Star Lapel Button for the next of kin consists the following time periods: (1) World War I, April 6, 1917 to March 3, 1921; (2) World War II, September 8, 1939 to July 25, 1947; (3) United Nations action in Korea, June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954); (4) After June 30, 1958 (a) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; (b) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; (c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict in which the United States is not a belligerent party against an opposing armed force.

The Department of Defense recognizes the following Operations subsequent to June 30, 1958
 * Lebanon, July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
 * Republic of Vietnam, July 1, 1958 to March 28, 1973
 * Quemoy and Matsu Islands, August 23, 1958 to June 1, 1963
 * Taiwan Straits, August 23, 1958 to January 1, 1959
 * U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations in the Congo, July 14, 1960 to September 1, 1962
 * U.S. operations of assistance to the Republic of Laos, April 19, 1961 to October 7, 1962
 * Berlin, August 14, 1961 to June 1, 1963
 * Cuba, October 24, 1962 to June 1, 1963
 * Congo, November 23, 1964 to November 27, 1964
 * Dominican Republic, April 28, 1965 to September 21, 1966
 * Korea, October 1, 1966 to June 30, 1974
 * Cambodia, March 29, 1973 to August 15, 1973
 * Thailand, March 29, 1973 to August 15, 1973
 * Cambodia, April 11, 1975 to April 13, 1975
 * Vietnam, April 29, 1975 to April 30, 1975
 * Mayaguez Operation, May 15, 1975
 * Lebanon, June 1983 to
 * Grenadan Operation, October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983
 * Operation Eldorado Canyon, April 2, 1986 to April 17, 1986
 * Panama, December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
 * Desert Shield/Desert Storm, August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995
 * Haiti, September 16, 1994 to March 31, 1995
 * Somalia, December 5, 1992 to March 31, 1995
 * Operations in the Persian Gulf, November 30, 1995 to (to be determined)
 * Operations in and around the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, December 20, 1996 to June 20, 1998 and any subsequent operations as may be announced by the Secretary of Defense.

One Gold Star Lapel Button will be furnished, without cost, to the widow, widower and to each of the parents (mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption and foster parents),children (step children and children through adoption), brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters.

Appearance
The Gold Star Lapel Button consists of a gold star on a purple circular background, bordered in gold and surrounded by gold laurel leaves. On the reverse is the inscription “United States of America, Act of Congress, August 1966” with space for engraving the initials of the recipient.