The 2020 Gold Star Mission scholarship award and donor appreciation banquet, held Saturday, Feb. 29, awarded a record number of scholarships since its inception in 2017 – each dedicated to carry on the legacy of fallen heroes from Illinois. With more than 100 applicants, the organization raised enough funds to award 61 scholarships.
The event allows scholarship recipients, Gold Star Families, Gold Star 500 participants, volunteers and donors to get together to honor and remember Illinois’ fallen heroes. In addition to the scholarship, during the scholarship presentation, recipients were also given a KIA (killed in action) memorial bracelet with the name of the fallen hero their scholarship was dedicated to.
During the banquet, Gold Star Mission recognized Illinois Country Living (ICL) magazine for its coverage of the Gold Star Mission, Gold Star 500 and Gold Star Families in its November 2019 issue. The organization presented ICL with a plaque that reads, “In sincere appreciation for your dedication and support of the Gold Star Mission. Through your generous contributions and dedication to the mission, you have ensured the names and memories of the fallen services members of Illinois will live forever.”
The Gold Star Mission is an Illinois-based non-profit organization dedicated to honor and carry on the legacy of the Illinois’ fallen heroes. Go to icl.coop to read the ICL feature story. To learn more about the Gold Star Mission, to participate in an upcoming event or to donate, go to goldstarmission.org.
