Memorial Day Concert Honors Gold Star Mothers

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ For many Americans, Memorial Day is a three-day weekend to travel, enjoy the outdoors or party. The true meaning of Memorial Day carries a more somber quality as we remember those who served and did not return as well as those who came back but have since passed. This is the real meaning of Memorial Day.

In World War I the government started a tradition of giving the family of every active soldier a banner with a blue star in the center to hang in their window and show their family's pride and commitment. Mothers of soldiers were known as Blue Star Mothers and the tradition continues to this day.

But there is a smaller group called Gold Star mothers that no mother wants to join, because it means their child was killed in action.  Ronna Jackson became a member of the Gold Star club on Feb. 13, 2010.  Her son, Staff Sergeant John Reiners, was killed in action in Zhari Province Afghanistan. His wounds were sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with improvised explosives devices (IED). Jackson knew that her devotion to the memory of her son would help both active deployed soldiers and the veterans who had served their time.

Since his passing, Jackson has helped organize local parents of soldiers and veterans into a support group that sends care packages to soldiers deployed in combat zones to give them a sense of home and know that people back home care and support them. One in 10 homeless people are veterans, and Jackson also works with Veteran of Foreign War (VFW) posts to offer support to veterans who have fallen on hard times. They organize food and clothing drives, free meals, help them find housing if homeless and help finding jobs to get back on their feet.

While many people see Memorial Day as a three-day weekend, there are many others like Jackson, who want people to remember the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives for country.

Eric Mattingly and Steven Mather promote concerts to raise money for Gold Star family tributes.  Mattingly is a disabled veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan. After his discharge he pursued a career in music production and committed to also honor his brothers in arms, especially those who did not return.  For the second year in a row, they have produced a the Celebrate Jam concert at the High Springs Lions Club on Memorial Day weekend.  Assisting to help produce the event were the Lions Club and the Veterans Motorcycle group.

This year's event featured eight bands performing on two stages.  “Our mission is to honor and support Gold Star families and their lost heroes by providing them a platform to share their stories and memories…our goal is to raise money through donations and ticket sales for the Woody Williams Foundation,” Mattingly said.  “We raised $2,500, which will go to the foundation to build Gold Star monuments in every state.”

Mattingly added that Williams was the sole surviving Marine from WW II to wear the Medal of Honor until he passed away on June 29, 2022. To date, Woody Williams and his foundation are responsible for establishing 106 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the United States with more than 73 additional monuments underway in 50 states and one U.S. Territory.  Ronna and Jerry Jackson were also honored at the event in memory of their son and Jackson's efforts to honor her son by helping other soldiers and veterans.

“Our goal is to create an annual tradition that not only pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, but also raises awareness and funds for organizations like the Woody Williams Foundation, which work tirelessly to support Gold Star families and veterans in need,” said Mattingly. “Their dedication to our country should never be forgotten.”

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