The Green Star
Recognizing Families of Veterans Lost to Suicide
Families who lose a Veteran to suicide are not.
We are working to change that.
What is the Green Star?
The Green Star is a proposed national symbol of recognition for families who have lost a Veteran to suicide.
It extends the American service banner tradition—ensuring these families are seen, acknowledged, and honored.
For generations, symbols like the Blue Star and Gold Star have represented service and sacrifice. The Green Star fills a gap that has long gone unrecognized.
This is not about replacing existing honors.
It is about completing them.
Why It Matters
Every Veteran’s service matters.
And every family’s loss matters.
Yet families who lose a Veteran to suicide often carry their grief without recognition, without a symbol, and without a place in the national conversation.
Behind every loss is:
- A spouse
- A parent
- A child
- A family navigating grief in silence
Recognition does not erase loss.
But it acknowledges it—and that matters.
Advancing National Recognition
Green Star Families of America is working to establish federal recognition through legislation, including H.R. 6022.
This effort would formally recognize families who have lost a Veteran to suicide and establish the Green Star as part of the American service banner tradition.
For too long, these families have been left out of national recognition.
This legislation is a step toward changing that.
The American Service Banner Tradition
The idea of honoring military families through service banners dates back to World War I.
- Blue Star represents a family member serving in the military
- The Gold Star represents a family member who died in service
Families would display these banners in their windows—quietly showing the nation that their family was part of the cost of war.
Over time, these symbols became deeply embedded in American culture, representing both pride and sacrifice.
But there is no recognized symbol for families who lose a Veteran to suicide.
The Green Star builds on this tradition—ensuring all families are acknowledged.
Closing the Gap in Recognition
The American tradition recognizes:
- Those who serve
- Those who are lost in combat
But it does not recognize those lost after service—despite the lasting impact of military experience.
The Green Star is about closing that gap.
It is about acknowledging that the cost of service does not always end on the battlefield.
Be Part of the Change
The Green Star is more than a symbol—it is a movement.
👉 Support the mission
👉 Share the story
👉 Help bring recognition to families who deserve to be seen