A day to honor mothers, never forget
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Sgt. Travis M. Arndt of Bozeman was just 10 days out of coming home from serving in Iraq. He planned to surprise his girlfriend, and family members believed he was going to ask her to marry him.
But he never made it home, and those dreams ended Sept. 21, 2005 when he was killed in action. He was just 23 years old.
His passing “left a hole deeper than I could ever fathom,” Travis’ mother, Michelle Torres, said through tears on Sunday as the Ronan VFW honored Gold Star Mothers.
A Gold Star Mother has lost a son or daughter while they served as active duty military. The last Sunday in September is set aside to honor the moms, the dads, and the families.
While moms may feel the incredible pain of grief, they are not alone. Other Gold Star Mothers reach out to those on the fresh brink of grief.
“None of us wanted to be a Gold Star Mother, but we are survivors,” Cathy Saltz said. Cathy and Dick Saltz lost their son Matt 10 years ago when an IED hit his tank in Iraq. In the first horrific days after learning of her son’s death, she received a card from Judy Childers of Powell, Wyo. — the mother of the very first Marine killed in Iraq in 2003. Her note was simple: “when you are ready, call me.”
Saltz did.
“(Childers) said, ‘you are going to be OK at some point. Everything will fall into place,’” Saltz said.
Connecting with other mothers sends a clear message of hope, and a safe place to share experiences.
Since 2009, Montana has implemented a national Survivor Outreach Service that helps survivors deal with benefits, financial counseling and support by bringing Gold Star moms together. Program coordinator Joe Warren spoke at Ronan’s program Sunday, lauding Saltz for being instrumental in defining and prioritizing issues the program addressed. She spoke up against thieves who stole the deceased soldiers’ identities to sell online, and helped craft legislation to stop soldier ID theft.
Gold Star Mothers come together to sponsor wounded warrior events, loving and caring for young Gold Star Mothers and sharing their faith in God, Saltz explained. She and her husband pray daily for soldiers, for safe and successful missions, and for comfort for all those who mourn.
“His plans are perfect, although we don’t understand it,” Saltz said. “We’ve learned to laugh again, we’ve learned to be joyful, to fellowship, and to finish the tasks before us. And we are grateful for the support.”
Of 130 towns and cities plus numerous unincorporated communities, Ronan is the only place in Montana that provides a program to honor moms on Gold Star Mothers Day.
Bob and Linda Bell of Ronan started the Gold Star Mothers event after Bell and 14 motorcycle buddies in Montana’s Big Sky Chapter 203 of the Star Touring and Riding Association raised nearly $4,000 to have a Gold Star created to top the veterans memorial monument in Ronan’s Bockman Park in 2006.
This past Sunday, three Gold Star Mothers were honored: Julia Brooks of Pablo (son, Sgt. Lucas T. White), Saltz, and Torres.
“They inspire people like ourselves to live stronger today than we did yesterday,” Torres said. “I believe we are the strongest group of people on this planet.”
