Parents who lost children in the battle field or other locations while in the service, were honored at a prayer breakfast hosted by the US Army Reserve Outreach Services Program, Saturday at the Tradewinds Hotel.
Mrs. Leone Ripley led the service which was attended by First Lady Cynthia Moliga and about 40 parents, siblings and relatives of military sons and daughters who have passed on.
It was another tearful event with parents talking about the day they received the news that their children had died…about longing to see their faces again, about grandchildren growing up without their mothers or fathers, or about what the future would have been for children taken at such young ages.
They ranged from 19 to 25.
The prayer breakfast coordinated by Mrs Julia Foifua the Outreach Services coordinator was part of the celebration for Gold Star Mums.
The local group has been expanded to include fathers, children and other relatives of the fallen heroes.
The mothers were presented corsages, the dads given ulas, along with electronic copies of the Bible and other mementos from the US Army.
The wife of Rev Iasepi Ulu, Mrs Leone Ripley, the aunt and guardian of Cadet Eugenie Ripley who was killed in a car crash in the mainland in June, was the keynote speaker.
She quoted from the book of Corrinthians: 
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
She told the gathering, “As Christians and believers of the faith, we know that all good things come from God. We know that it is not God’s will, nor his intent to hurt or punish us.”
Mrs. Ripley continued, “There may be times in our lives when we do not understand our purpose or havent yet discovered God’s plan, but as sure as I stand before you this morning for a purpose, God is using you to SPEAK LIFE, to SPEAK HOPE, to SPEAK LOVE to others in need.
She said while Gold Star Moms Day may only be celebrated once a year, they can rest assured God celebrates them every day.
She said, “He sees your pain, God sees your heart, and His love for you is never ending.”
Mr. Tuialuulu spoke on behalf of the parents to thank Mrs Leone Ripley and First Lady as well as Mrs Foifua for helping them cope with their grief.
He said there’s strength to be gained from being with others who have also faced the same loss that you have.
Yesterday the parents attended the Marist St. Joseph’s monthly Toa o Samoa service at the Catholic Church in Pago Pago together with the First Lady, Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Mauga Tasi Asuega and his wife and Mrs Fiapaipai Fruean.
