About Operation Gold Star
Supporting and Honoring the Families Left Behind in War
In an effort to support the grieving families of fallen American servicemen and women the Minnesota Foundation for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing grief camps for children, is proud to announce a special camp opportunity for the families who have had their loved one die in the Iraq or Afghanistan war.
Operation Gold Star was created to provide support to husbands, wives, mothers and fathers, children, grandparents, and significant others who are facing a future without their beloved serviceman or servicewoman and grieve together as a family in a safe, hopeful, and non-political environment.
The free camp will be held March 8th-9th, 2008 and is open to families in Minnesota and neighboring states.
Operation Gold Star will give families the opportunity to be together in support, work through their on-going grief, and develop friendships with other families experiencing the same tragedy.
The Minnesota Foundation for Children believes mourning is a process, not a one-time event; that mourning is a natural reaction to the death of a loved one, not an illness to be cured or diagnosed; and grieving children will often talk through or play out their concerns and fears if provided with a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment.
The weekend will consist of time for fun and play, relaxation, memorializing activities and special activities for children separate and together with the adults.
Programmed activities for children ages 3-17, young adults ages 18-25 and adults will be scheduled. Licensed childcare will be provided for infants and small children to the age of 3. Experienced camp grief counselors and veterans will be leading the activities.
Since 2003, the Minnesota Foundation for Children has operated grief camps for children in an encouraging and supportive environment who have experienced the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or significant friend.
Camps are free to all participants and have been funded by the generous support of members of the Minnesota Funeral Director's Association and other concerned members of the community. Since its inception, Minnesota Foundation for Children has hosted over 600 children at their camps.
"Surviving families and friends are faced with a distinctive grieving process after the death of a loved one in war"
