Jefferson City in Cole County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Gold Star Families Memorial Monument
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2024
1. Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Marker
This monument honors, recognizes, and serves Gold Star Families and the legacy of their Loved Ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
The Homeland panel depicts images representing Jefferson City and central Missouri which is home to many Gold Star Families. It is our people, it is our family, it is our freedom that Missourians have fought to defend from the War of 1812, before Missouri was a state, until the present day. The images in this panel represent our land and our system of government protected by those absent from among us.
The Family panel represents the uniquely brave spirit of our military families who provide support to their Loved Ones serving in our Armed Forces of the United States of America. It also represents Missourians who have died so generations to come may realize the future they died to secure. We go forward in the shadow of their sacrifices.
The Patriot panel shows the raising of the American Flag on Iwo Jima, which symbolizes Missourians who have vigorously supported and defended our great Nation through selfless
this page online
The Sacrifice panel represents the sacrifices made by the Loved Ones of our Gold Star Families while in service to our country. The military tombstones and the folded flag presented to family members "on behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation" symbolize the losses of loved ones by our Gold Star Families.
The Silhouette of a saluting service member represents the void left by Missouri's Loved Ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. They remain on duty in our hearts.
Erected by Jefferson City Gold Star Families, Woody Williams Foundation.
Topics and series. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: Military. In addition, it is included in the Gold Star Families series list.
Location. 38° 34.753′ N, 92° 10.3′ W. Monument is in Jefferson City, Missouri, in Cole County. It is on West Capitol Avenue east of West Main Street, on the right. Touch for map. Monument is at or near this postal address: 201 W Capitol Ave,
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2024
2. Gold Star Families Memorial Monument panels
Panels left to right:
Homeland
Family
Patriot
Sacrifice
Homeland
Family
Patriot
Sacrifice
Regionally, this memorial monument is in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Corps of Discovery in the Jefferson City Area (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Missouri River Valley as a Transportation Corridor (about 300 feet away); Corps of Discovery (about 300 feet away); Jefferson City Greenway: (about 400 feet away); Dedicated to You, A Free Citizen in a Free Land (about 400 feet away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (about 400 feet away); Thomas Jefferson (about 500 feet away); Gold Star Memorial (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jefferson City.
More about this monument. The monument
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2024
3. The Blood of Heroes Never Dies (rear side of the monument)
"I.. tried to think out my own way in the world coming after, and wondered whether there would be any after me. I didnt know. I just wanted to live for a while and try to understand some of it, just live in the world and maybe help a little to tie it together."
Bert Stiles KIA, November 26, 1944, Serenade to the Big Bird
For each of those who died in service to their nation, many at home have been left with broken hearts. This monument honors those they left behind and the commitments of families and friends to carry on their love of country.
Thousands of Missourians who "just wanted to live for a while" have died protecting our nation and have been mourned by those who have never quit missing them. They remain part of the greater Missouri family that cherishes their memories and joins their immediate families and friends in their unfinished desire to "live in the world and maybe help a litle to tie it together."
May we, as their families, and we as Americans, always be worthy of them.
Bert Stiles KIA, November 26, 1944, Serenade to the Big Bird
For each of those who died in service to their nation, many at home have been left with broken hearts. This monument honors those they left behind and the commitments of families and friends to carry on their love of country.
Thousands of Missourians who "just wanted to live for a while" have died protecting our nation and have been mourned by those who have never quit missing them. They remain part of the greater Missouri family that cherishes their memories and joins their immediate families and friends in their unfinished desire to "live in the world and maybe help a litle to tie it together."
May we, as their families, and we as Americans, always be worthy of them.
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2024
4. The Challenge (rear side of the monument)
Lt. Col. Johni McCrae, a Canadian soldier poet, and physician in World War I's Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium, gave voice to those lost in defense of liberty. The story is told that he composed this challenge to the living on the day he presided over the funeral of a friend killed in action.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt the dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hand we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lt. Col. McCrae died January 28, 1918 at a French military hospital he commanded. Later that year, a response to his famous "In Flanders Fields" was published. It is on the next panel.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt the dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hand we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lt. Col. McCrae died January 28, 1918 at a French military hospital he commanded. Later that year, a response to his famous "In Flanders Fields" was published. It is on the next panel.
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2024
5. Accepting the Challenge (rear side of the monument)
University of Georgia Professer Moina Bell Michael, left her teaching position to work with the YWCA during the war. Two days before the armistice she wrote a response to John McCraes poem, seen on the previous panel. She vowed to always wear a red poppy in remembrance of those who served and in 1921 created the red poppy fund-raising program to help disabled veterans.
We Shall Keep the Faith
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With all who died
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson ye have wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Moina Bell Michael died in 1944. Four years later, the Postal Service issued a stamp with her image. The stamp, appropriately, was red.
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With all who died
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson ye have wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Moina Bell Michael died in 1944. Four years later, the Postal Service issued a stamp with her image. The stamp, appropriately, was red.
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2024
6. Full view Gold Star Families Memorial Monument
Missouri State Capitol in the background
Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 280 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 20, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
