Gold Star Lapel Button / Gold Star Pin and Next Of Kin Pin

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Gold Star Lapel Button
Also known as the Gold Star Pin


Public Law 534 - 89th Congress, directs the design and distribution of a lapel button, to be known as the Gold Star Lapel Button, to identify widows, parents and next of kin of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who lost their lives:

The law provides that one Gold Star Lapel Button will be furnished, without cost, to the widow and to each of the parents and the next of kin. The term "widow" includes widower; the term "parents" includes mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco parentis; the term "next of kin" includes only children, brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters; and the term "children" includes stepchildren and children through adoption.

The law further provides that not more than one Gold Star Lapel Button may be furnished to any one individual except that, when a Gold Star Lapel Button furnished under this section has been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was furnished, the button may be replaced upon application and payment of an amount sufficient to cover the cost of manufacture and distribution.

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Use U.S. Department of Defense DD FORM 3 to apply for a Gold Star Lapel Button.

[Moderator]

Gold Star Lapel Button
Also known as the Gold Star Pin


10 USC 1126: Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution
From Title 10-ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A-General Military Law
PART II-PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 57-DECORATIONS AND AWARDS

§1126. Gold star lapel button: eligibility and distribution
(a) A lapel button, to be known as the gold star lapel button, shall be designed, as approved by the Secretary of Defense, to identify widows, parents, and next of kin of members of the armed forces-
(1) who lost their lives during World War I, World War II, or during any subsequent period of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged before July 1, 1958;
(2) who lost or lose their lives 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; or
(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; or

(3) who lost or lose their lives after March 28, 1973, as a result of-
(A) an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of Defense; or
(B) military operations while serving outside the United States (including the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States) as part of a peacekeeping force.

(b) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary concerned, upon application to him, shall furnish one gold star lapel button without cost to the widow and to each parent and next of kin of a member who lost or loses his or her life under any circumstances prescribed in subsection (a).
(c) Not more than one gold star lapel button may be furnished to any one individual except that, when a gold star lapel button furnished under this section has been lost, destroyed, or rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the person to whom it was furnished, the button may be replaced upon application and payment of an amount sufficient to cover the cost of manufacture and distribution.
(d) In this section:
(1) The term "widow" includes widower.
(2) The term "parents" includes mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, and foster parents who stood in loco parentis.
(3) The term "next of kin" includes only children, brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters.
(4) The term "children" includes stepchildren and children through adoption.
(5) The term "World War I" includes the period from April 6, 1917, to March 3, 1921.
(6) The term "World War II" includes the period from September 8, 1939, to July 25, 1947, at 12 o'clock noon.
(7) The term "military operations" includes those operations involving members of the armed forces assisting in United States Government sponsored training of military personnel of a foreign nation.
(8) The term "peacekeeping force" includes those personnel assigned to a force engaged in a peacekeeping operation authorized by the United Nations Security Council.

[Moderator]

Next of Kin Lapel Button
Also known as the Next of Kin Pin


The Next of Kin Deceased Personnel Lapel Button was approved in 1973 for the primary next of kin of armed services members who lose their lives while serving on active duty or while assigned in an Army Reserve or Army National Guard unit in a drill status. It is a gold star on a gold background surrounded by four oak sprigs. The pin is authorized for issue retroactive to March 29, 1973.

If your loved one died while on active duty, but under circumstances that do not qualify you for the Gold Star Lapel Pin, you are entitled to the Next of Kin Deceased Personnel Lapel Button. The next of kin may request issue of the button by writing to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. Furnish the name, grade, SSN, and date of death of the deceased soldier. The names and relationships of the next of kin must also be provided.