Sandpoint VA clinic opens

What does a Blue Star in the window mean?

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. (BSMA), is a private nonprofit organization that provides support for mothers who have sons or daughters in active service in the U.S. Armed Forces. It was originally formed during World War II.

The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in a window of their homes.

The Service Flag had a star for each family member in the military. Living servicemen were represented by a Blue Star and those who had lost their lives were represented by a Gold Star. Until 2011, membership in the Blue Star Mothers was open to any woman living in America who has a son or daughter (and in some cases, stepchildren) in the U.S. Armed Forces, or who has had a son or daughter in the U.S. Armed Forces who has been honorably discharged.

At the National Convention held August 2010 in Grand Junction, Colo., under the leadership of National President Wendy Hoffman, members passed a resolution changing membership eligibility.

The resolution was taken to Congress in August 2011 and signed into law Dec. 13, 2011. It expanded membership opportunities for more women who have supported service members in new conflicts and different family structures.

The law updates the Blue Star Mothers Congressional Charter to include grandmothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, and female legal guardians. The law also expands membership to mothers whose children have served more recently by removing references to specific conflicts.

It also expands membership to eligible mothers living outside of the U.S.

The group holds a Congressional charter under Title 36 of the U.S. Code.

VA CLINIC OPENS IN SANDPOINT

Veterans living in the Idaho Panhandle say they welcome increased resources and health care programs and services provided by a new VA-contracted clinic near Sandpoint.

The Bonner County VA Clinic, part of the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center’s regional health care services for VA-enrolled veterans, is scheduled to open in early October. The contractor, STGi International based in Arlington, Virginia, operates more than two dozen clinics around the country. The facility will offer a full-time physician, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, and two full primary care teams, plus mental health, telehealth, limited laboratory, and other services aimed at increasing access to care for veterans in rural North Idaho.

The VA is grateful to have partnered with Kaniksu Community Health in recent years, but is also excited to welcome a new contracted provider group to the new clinic’s location at 130 McGhee Road, just off Highway 200.

On Oct. 5, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., STGi and the VA will co-host a public Open House at the new clinic, which is a design-build project of 8,770 square feet and three times larger than the existing clinic in downtown Sandpoint.

Refueling

Our Heroes

Buy your flight gear or donate today! Support fellow Veterans and be a part of Operation Fly Together. A portion of all merchandise proceeds go into a Veterans Fund. OperationFlyTogether.com