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Keesler Federal provides funding for Gold Star Families Memorial

BILOXI, MS (December 17, 2019) — The Mississippi Gulf Coast is now home to a Gold Star Families Memorial, with Keesler Federal Credit Union providing funding for the monument.

The Gold Star Memorial honors those who died while in military service, and their families. The project in Biloxi was a joint effort between the City of Biloxi, Keesler Federal, the Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation and Gold Star Families.

In addition to the funding, Keesler Federal organized the monument’s unveiling and dedication held in late November. Keesler Federal Chairman James Hollingsworth served as Master of Ceremonies at the event attended by several hundred people, including 43 Gold Star families.

“Keesler Federal wanted to be involved in this project as soon as we first heard about it,” said Hollingsworth, who retired from the Air Force as a full colonel. “The Gold Star Monument will be a permanent memorial to the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The pain does not go away, and neither should our appreciation of their personal sacrifices.”

The origins of the Gold Star date back to World War I. Families of U.S. soldiers flew flags with a blue star for each family member serving in the military. The blue star changed to a gold star upon death in battle. Congress in 1947 authorized the military to award a Gold Star lapel pin to family members of those killed in action. In 2010, the Hershel Woody Williams Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation began an effort to build Gold Star Families monuments across the country. The Biloxi site is the 59th in 44 states. Ninety-six-year-old Hershel “Woody” Williams, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroics during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, spoke at the event.

“This monument is not just for today,” Williams said. “But it honors those of the past, those of the present and, God forbid, those of the future.

“It’s about folks who have suffered the loss of a loved one. They sacrificed their lives for us and for America, and we have never paid tribute to those families.”

The black granite monument features a carved-out silhouette of a saluting military member and is located near the tower from the USS Biloxi and two other military memorials in Guice Veterans Memorial Park.

About Keesler Federal Credit Union

Keesler Federal is a $2.5 billion cooperative, a not-for-profit owned by its members. The credit union has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years, including a 40 percent increase in new loan demand. Established in 1947, Keesler Federal Credit Union is the largest Mississippi-based credit union and has more than 600 employees. With 29 branches, Keesler Federal serves over 216,000 members worldwide.