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DD Form 3, "Application for Gold Star Lapel Button"

DD Form 3, "Application for Gold Star Lapel Button" 2025

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The document is an application form for the Gold Star Lapel Button, which is awarded to the next-of-kin of U.S. Armed Forces members who have died in service. It includes sections for deceased servicemember data, applicant relationship, and applicant information. The form must be completed and submitted to the appropriate military branch, with specific eligibility criteria outlined for recipients. Additional instructions for mailing the application to various branches of service are also provided.

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When to wear a gold star lapel pin?

* The GSLB provides an appropriate identification for widows, widowers, parents and next of kin of Service members who lost their lives while serving in war; periods of armed hostilities; while engaged in military operations involving armed conflict with an opposing foreign force; while serving with friendly foreign

Who can wear a gold star?

Lapel buttons. Following the end of WWII, on Aug. 1, 1947, Congress passed an act establishing the Gold Star Lapel Button as a means of identification for widows and parents of members of the armed forces of the United States who lost their lives in the armed services of the United States in World War II.

Who can wear a Gold Star lapel pin?

Today, Gold Star Lapel Buttons are presented to the eligible next of kin prior to their service members funeral or interment service. Eligible survivors may also request a button by completing a DD Form 3, Application for Gold Star Lapel Button, and returning it to the address listed on the form.

What is a DD form 3?

The law stipulates that only one button is furnished to each recipient, but a request for replacement of the Gold Star Lapel Button (lost, destroyed, or unserviceable) can be submitted on DD Form 3 (Application for Gold Star Lapel Button) to NPRC, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138.

What is the next of kin button?

The Army issues this button to each widow or widower, to each of the parents, each child (natural or adoptive), stepchild, brother, half brother, sister and half sister of a service member who lost their life while on active duty or while assigned in USAR or ARNG units in a drill status.

What does a gold lapel pin mean?

Published May 13, 2021. The Gold Star has been used since World War I as a symbol for family members whose loved ones have given their life in war. It was not until 1947 that Congress designated the version we know today -- the Gold Star lapel pin -- as the official symbol of a family members sacrifice.

What does a gold star banner mean?

Each star represents a military family member; Blue stars are symbolic of family members in active duty, while gold stars represent family members who died during service. The design for service banners was created by Robert Queisser in 1917 to honor his two active-duty sons serving in the military during World War I.

What does the star lapel mean?

1, 1947, Congress passed an act establishing the Gold Star Lapel Button as a means of identification for widows and parents of members of the armed forces of the United States who lost their lives in the armed services of the United States in World War II.

DD Form 3, "Application for Gold Star Lapel Button" 2025

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