Media
Veterans: Support Gold Star Families and the Fallen, Don’t Politicize Them
New York, NY (October 19, 2017) — Today, after nearly a week of Gold Star families being dragged into a political battle, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) urges all Americans to put politics aside and come together to support our Gold Star families. As outlined in IAVA’s annual Policy Agenda, we have advocated on behalf of Gold Star families and the fallen for many years and urged action from leaders in Washington, DC. This is the time for that action to happen. We encourage all Americans to: read our policy recommendations and push for action in Congress, the White House, DoD and VA; to support our amazing partner TAPS; and to listen, learn, and reflect, instead of politicizing tragedy.
“Now is not a time for name calling and political debates. Now is a time for education, for unity and for support to those who need it most. If there’s anything that can bring our country together, it should be our Gold Star families and the brave men and women willing to sacrifice their lives for our country and freedoms,” said Paul Rieckhoff, Founder and CEO of IAVA. “This is a defining moment for our nation. From the White House to the man and woman on the street, we hope everyone will focus on moving our country forward together.”
Learn more about IAVA’s efforts to increase support for Gold Star families at iava.org/goldstar.