A new monument dedicated to the families of Pennsylvania’s fallen service members will soon grace the Capitol complex grounds in Harrisburg. The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, authorized by Act 145 of 2024 and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last month, will honor the profound sacrifices made by these families.
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Kerwin (R-Elizabethtown) in March 2023, House Bill 71 gained unanimous support in the House and Senate before reaching the governor’s desk. Kerwin, who serves in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, expressed deep gratitude for the memorial’s approval. “It is important these grieving families have a place to gather, reflect, pray, and share in fellowship with one another,” he stated. “The memorial would be a permanent fixture honoring the sacrifices of not only our fallen men and women in uniform but also their loved ones.”
The monument’s design will feature four black granite panels bearing the inscription: “Gold Star Family Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Mothers, Fathers, and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.” The opposite side of each panel will depict themes of “Homeland,” “Patriot,” “Family,” and “Sacrifice.” The memorial will be located east of the Irvis Office Building.
The Woody Williams Foundation and the MI Charitable Foundation will fund and maintain the monument at no cost to taxpayers. The Department of General Services expects only minimal costs, manageable within its existing operations budget.
For Pennsylvania Gold Star Mothers like Carol Resh and Nancy Smith, the memorial carries profound meaning. Resh, whose son, U.S. Army Captain Mark Resh, was killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007, emphasized the importance of remembering the fallen. “The monuments are beautiful, and it means a lot to the families that the fallen aren’t forgotten,” she said. “Hopefully, people will visit and understand the sacrifices Gold Star Families have made.”
Nancy Smith, who lost her son, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua B. Smith, to PTSD-related suicide in 2012, expressed her gratitude. “Having a Gold Star Memorial placed at the Capitol where we can gather, honor, and remember our precious lost heroes means so much to us,” she said, thanking Rep. Kerwin for his dedication to Pennsylvania’s Gold Star Families.
The Woody Williams Foundation has been instrumental in establishing 141 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments nationwide, with 46 more underway. The Harrisburg monument will join existing ones in Williamsport, Valley Forge, and Washington Crossing, ensuring that the sacrifices of Pennsylvania’s military families are honored and remembered for generations to come.
