Gold Star Lapel Button


A Gold Star Lapel Button in the United States is an official decoration authorized by an Act of Congress that is issued to the direct next of kin family members of service members who died in World War I and World War II and subsequent armed hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States has been engaged. The Gold Star Lapel Button was established by Act of Congress, Public Law 80-306, in August 1947.

Award criteria

The issuance of the Gold Star Lapel Button for the next of kin consists the following time periods:
The Department of Defense recognizes the following operations subsequent to June 30, 1958:
One Gold Star Lapel Button will be furnished, without cost, to the widow, widower and to each of the parents, children, brothers, sisters, half brothers, and half sisters.

Appearance

The Gold Star Lapel Button consists of a gold star on a purple circular background, bordered in gold and surrounded by gold laurel leaves. On the reverse is the inscription "United States of America, Act of Congress, August 1966" with space for engraving the initials of the recipient.