KINGWOOD, W.Va. –
The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) hosted the annual Gold Star Families Retreat at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia, Sept. 23-25, 2022, for more than 140 attendees.
The three-day weekend getaway is held each year to honor the service and sacrifice of Gold Star Families - those whose family member died in the course of military service. This is the first in-person retreat for these families since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This weekend is so special to us in West Virginia as we honor and remember our fallen and the families who carry forward their memory,” said WVNG Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. William (Bill) Crane. “We are forever indebted to them for their ultimate sacrifice and the courage and strength they bring forth every day.”
When it comes to the Gold Star community, many are invited to the event, including parents, spouses, siblings, children and loved ones of the fallen service members.
“My son was Staff Sgt. Rob Cunningham of the West Virginia Army National Guard. He died by PTSD suicide on July 12, 2018,” said Terry Cunningham, a Gold Star Mother. “I love Camp Dawson. To me it is peaceful. It reminds me of the good times I had with Rob, because the military was everything to him and saved his life.”
Another parent of a fallen service member, Chuck Ickes, said that this weekend helps him with the grieving process and allows him to connect with those who share the same pain as him.
“There's a lot of anger at first,” said Ickes, whose son, Marine Corps Cpl. Charles R. Ickes III, died by suicide Aug. 13, 2016. “You have to get past that before you can allow people in.”
Cpl. Ickes mother, Cindy, said in the beginning she couldn’t see it, but now thinks their son would be glad they are involved with the Gold Star Families program.
“I think Charlie would say to us, ‘I'm proud of you, Mom and Dad,’” Cindy said. “‘You're carrying on my legacy. You're trying to help other veterans and other families.’”
The retreat helps honor the Gold Star families who are there for one another even in their own grief, bringing solace to others who understand their pain. Various events promote healing, camaraderie and remembrance of the family’s lost loved one, such as fishing, archery, rappelling, cupcake decorating and painting. There were also U.S. Army helicopters to explore and a 19-team golf tournament.
Vendors such as Military One Source, Tricare, USO and Operation ActiVet were on site to assist with everything from financial questions and insurance to staying connected and healthy. This is part of the WVNG pledge to ensure that these heroes’ families have the resources and the support they need in their loved ones’ absences.
“I'm all that's left,” said Cunningham, “and through this sorority of women, and fraternal organization, so to speak, I have a family. And my family takes care of me. You understand and you can relate to me. I have that, and I didn't have it before.”
Pennsylvania Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler, made the trip to Camp Dawson during the weekend to meet with families who traveled to the event from Pennsylvania.
“The families of our fallen heroes will always be part of our military family and I’m honored to be with them today,” said Schindler, who visited with the families Saturday. “It’s the gold star nobody wants… indicating on a service flag that their loved one has died defending our country in military service.”
The West Virginia Gold Star Mothers invite Pennsylvania Gold Star Mothers and Families every year. While visiting Camp Dawson, Schindler said it’s important to remember the families of our fallen.
Sunday, a prayer breakfast and Missing Man recitation was held, followed by the Honor and Remember Ceremony. The weekend was completed with a rose laying where the Patriot Guard Riders acted as color guard.
The U.S. Congress designated the last Sunday in September as “Gold Star Mother’s Day” on June 23, 1936, which has been expanded to Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. The WVNG’s Gold Star Family Retreat is always scheduled to include this day, as the WVNG leadership and One Guard Family thank these families for their service and their sacrifice.