According to the Historical Marker Database, Westchester County is home to over 400 historical markers, with some dating back to the late 19th century. 44 of them are war monuments celebrating veterans as far back as the Revolutionary War. 10 of these monuments are Gold Star Mothers Monuments, which honor the mothers who lost their children in service to the United States. These are the monuments that local Girl Scout Alana chose to research to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award.
When Alana approached the Crestwood Library about possibly displaying a paper version of her project, staff agreed, but also offered her a more permanent place for it: the ypl.org website! Along with providing a link to Alana’s project in this blog post, Crestwood staff member Hanora Woodruff took the opportunity to interview her to gain further insight into the project and her reasons for choosing to highlight these particular monuments. The correspondence went as follows:
H: First off, can you give us some background about yourself? How did you become interested in the Girl Scouts, and for how long have you been part of a troop? What troop number are you a part of? Do you have any favorite activities or trips that you've been on as part of the Scouts?
I first joined Girl Scouts in 2nd grade, so I’ve been part of my troop for about 12–13 years now. I was originally interested in Girl Scouts because I had heard from other Girl Scouts about the friends that they had made in their troops and the fun experiences that they had while earning badges, and I wanted to be a part of that as well. Over the years, being in Girl Scouts has given me so many opportunities to learn new skills, connect with my community, and grow as a leader.
One of my proudest accomplishments is earning my Girl Scout Silver Award through a project that focused on bringing awareness to POWs (Prisoners of War) through POW/MIA flags. For my Silver Award, I went to all of the libraries, parks, schools, and other municipal buildings throughout the City of Yonkers to see what condition their POW flag was in and if they had one. I then hosted presentations to educate the people in my community about POWs and the POW/MIA flag. I also hosted fundraisers to raise money to purchase these flags and raised enough money to supply every school, library, park, and municipal building throughout Yonkers with a new flag, regardless of the previous flag's condition at the time. For the past year, I have been working on my Gold Award project, which is about raising awareness for the Gold Star Mothers Organization. I am a graduate of Ursuline High School and currently a student at Manhattan University, studying Civil Engineering.
Some of my favorite activities have been the service projects we’ve done as a troop. One that stands out the most was organizing a toy drive for a school in the Bronx. When we saw the photos and the joy on the kids’ faces as they received the toys, it was an amazing feeling. I also loved the projects where we collected supplies for local animal shelters because it was rewarding to know we were making a difference for animals in need. Another one of my favorite projects was the Swap the Straw project. This was a project that we did in middle school, where we worked with the Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano to pass a law banning plastic straws due to the effects that they were having on the environment and the wildlife.
H: It's my understanding that you undertook your Gold Star Mothers Monuments project as part of the Girl Scouts memorial project initiative. Can you tell me more about the memorial projects and why you chose to highlight Gold Star Mothers Monuments in particular?
I undertook the Gold Star Mothers Monuments as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award. I first learned about the idea from Lucia Travarez, a staff member in the Yonkers Mayor’s Office, who connected me with Hope Hollinsworth-Coaxum, the president of the Yonkers Gold Star Mothers. After speaking with Mrs. Hollinsworth-Coaxum and hearing stories about how many people were unaware of the Gold Star Mothers organization, I was inspired to raise awareness for their sacrifices as well as the sacrifices of their children. While many people are familiar with veterans’ memorials, fewer know about Gold Star Mothers and the challenges their families face. The Gold Star Mothers organization represents mothers who have lost a son or daughter in military service, and I felt it was important to honor their courage and resilience by bringing more attention to their story.
By focusing on Gold Star Mothers Monuments, I hoped to not only honor the families directly impacted by loss, but also to educate my community about the meaning behind these memorials and ensure that their stories are not forgotten.
H: Next, was there anything you found particularly moving or inspiring while conducting research? Are there any figures or monuments that particularly stood out to you?
One of the most moving parts of my research was learning about the symbolism behind the Gold Star Mothers monuments. Most of the monuments either depict a mother alone, representing the grief and strength she carries, or show a mother walking with her young child, the child who would one day grow up to serve, fight, and ultimately give their life for our country. I found that imagery especially powerful because it captures both the love and loss tied to the Gold Star Mothers’ experience.
Some examples stood out to me in particular. In Yonkers, the mother is seated holding the folded flag that had draped her child’s casket, looking upward as she tries not to cry. This monument represents both grief and strength. In Eastchester, the statue shows a mother walking with her young child. The child holds a teddy bear in one hand and the mother’s hand in the other, looking up at her. The mother looks down at the child as they walk together, symbolizing love and guidance, innocence and trust, and loss and remembrance. Their walk represents the journey of life and how Gold Star Mothers always carry the memory of their children. In Tuckahoe, the monument takes the form of a bridge over the train station where many mothers walked their children before sending them off to war. This connection to real-life experiences made the sacrifice these families made especially moving to me.
Seeing these monuments and understanding their symbolism reminded me why it is so important to raise awareness about Gold Star Mothers, honoring both the fallen service members and the families who continue to carry their memory.
H: Finally, what does this project mean to you? What do you hope to accomplish by bringing awareness to these monuments?
This project means a lot to me because it gave me the chance to honor families who have made the ultimate sacrifice and to shine a light on a part of military history that isn’t always recognized. By researching, visiting, and creating resources about Gold Star Mothers Monuments, I wanted to make sure that their stories continue to be told and that people in my community, and beyond, understand the significance of these memorials and the women they represent.
What I hope to accomplish is to bring greater awareness and appreciation for Gold Star Mothers and the sacrifices they’ve endured, and to provide resources like my brochures and online directory that people can access for years to come. My goal is that, through this project, more people will take the time to visit these monuments, reflect on their meaning, and keep the memory of these families and their loved ones alive.
The last Sunday of September is Gold Star Mother's and Family Day, also known as National Gold Star Mother's Day. This day, celebrated since World War I, honors the mothers, fathers, and families of fallen military service members and the losses they have suffered.
Hanora Woodruff is a Part-Time Clerk and patron of Yonkers Crestwood Library since childhood. She recently graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Biology and Creative Writing. Her favorite reads at the moment are Sylvia Plath’s poems.