Share Your Stars Story
We would love to hear your stories!
Stars end up in the protective hands of military personnel both active duty and veterans, first responders, and their families around the world. Every one of these people has their own story and experiences that brought a Star to them. We’d love to hear those stories!
Please feel free to share pictures and stories!
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Hello, I am Brianna, I am 16 years old, and I am the granddaughter of Gary Cronkright, who was a Navy Veteran. This star does not belong to me, but it belongs to him, and I am deeply sorry if I am breaking a rule here by writing for him. As of June 7th, 2026, he died in a tragic accident on the highway unexpectedly, and upon his passing I was gifted this star. I thought it was so awesome to have this star, and I still do as I write this. I am completely unsure as to who he received this from, or where, or when. I am also not sure how long he served, but I am very positive his service is respected and honored upon many. I am only writing this now because I didn’t even realize there was a website for these until a few days ago, and it is just really fascinating to me.
Thank you to all veterans.
Yesterday my wife and I were on a flight from home in Las Vegas to Orlando Florida for a cruise vacation. After a very early day to the airport, a long wait and a long direct flight one of the flight attendants tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a small token of her appreciation with a small white star and a printed note in it. In short, the note thanked me for my service and she did as well. I was wearing my U.S. Navy Veteran hat. I served from November 1981 – December 1985 as a BM Boatswains mate and a surface pilot rescue swimmer. I thanked her multiple times and after she walked away it hit me, I’m now that guy I used to thank as a kid with my Navy veteran father at the VFW. I’m proud to have served my country honorably and I have pinned the star she gave me inside my hat as the photo shows. I will never remove it as a token given to me from a total stranger thanking me for my service.
Thank you to “StarsForOurTroops.org” for doing what you do.
I was given a Star by a Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant when my wife and I were going to visit our daughter and grandchildren in California. When we returned home, I ordered some stars and started giving them out to Veterans, Police Officers and First Responders. I also put stars in birthday cards for Veterans that Janine Stange let’s people know about Veterans celebrating their birthday and for people to send birthday cards. I have met so many Veterans and have heard their story about their service to the United States of America. Thank you and thank every veteran, active duty members and first responders. Bill B. US Army Vietnam Veteran..
My husband has been in the hospital for 2 weeks. On my trips in and out of the hospital daily I watch for Veteran hats. I stop and give them a star and thank them for their service. In return I get a warm thank you and smile!
I am a Star Maker!
On April 7th I was volunteering at a polling place to collect signatures for state initiative petition and a gentleman came to my table. He wore a “US Marines” hat and he spoke gently, with wisdom from someone that had seen many years of both good and bad in life.
We spoke for a few minutes, talking about the current state of our Country and how difficult it is to watch the dismantling of freedoms, the lack of respect for the Constitution and more.
Just went he turned to leave he pulled something from his pocket and began to walk away. I thanked him for this service, his time and wished him a good day.
I looked down to what he handed me and my heart skipped a beat. As I read the card the first time I read it as if it was his words “old, worn out” but upon getting to the end I realized I was reading it wrong.
I read it again and the tears began to fall. How touching this was to receive a star from a flag that once waved to represent the freedom and liberty that this country was founded on.
I looked over when he began to drive away to wave, he saw me crying, stopped for a moment with a questionstionable thumbs up. I wiped my tears, sat up taller and gave him a smile with a thumbs up.
We will be okay. Love wins over evil. We will come out of this even stronger than we were before. I knew it before, but I feel it differently now.
First of all I want to thank you all for the beautiful Star from Mrs Maine Emissary. Well about me I was in the Navy for 24 plus years, last year In April of 2025 I had the opportunity to visit Washington DC with the Puget Sound Honor Flight and was given the Star. I did serve in the Brown Water Navy in Vietnam. 1971-1972. I remember the constant war on TV and while attending college. Everything was so negative about the war. Plus I had a lot of negative feelings within. When I attend the DC Honor Flight things changed for me and all the negative feelings departed from within. I am so grateful for the Star it help me change in a positive way. I have this Star so I see it everyday. Thank you all.
On Sept 9th I went on the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight #75 to Washington DC.
We meet on the 8th at the VFW Lodge in Springfield for supper and among the items we were given was one of your Stars! Very much appreciated.
I am a long time Scout leader of the Scouting America Troop 876, our Troop has in the past participated in the Pocket Flag Project to get small folded flags to serving service members. AS a veteran I know how important it is to see that our service members and veterans are not forgotten. Thank you!
P.S. our Troop will defiantly see about getting you more flag cantons as we have alot of flags we haven’t retired yet.
Navy Veteran 1969-1973
I was given a star from a lady at the local American legion where I’m
a member. It really means alot to me. I asked her for another one and
I put it in my dad’s flag case that I was presented with at my dad’s
funeral. He served 23 years in the United States Army. I just want to
say you guys are awesome and I appreciate deeply what you do. Thank
you
I received a wonderful Veteran’s Day card thanking me for my service. Inside was a star! I really appreciated the message and the support.
My daughter gave me a star. I am a Desert Storm veteran. I carry my star in my wallet to remind me of the constitution, and that defending the constitution is worthwhile in any generation. My star reminds me of what a privilege it was to serve my country and how blessed I am to be an American. The privilege was standing with other Americans from different walks of life serving together a worthwhile cause, defending the constitution.
My father was presented a star from your organization at his bedside military salute ceremony three weeks before he died. The star meant a great deal to him and it is now tucked away in my son’s (Active Duty – Army) wallet. My father served during WWII and the Korean War but never received any benefits due to his records being ‘lost’. He went through life with significant hearing loss due to the war and it wasn’t until he was in his 80’s that the records were ‘found’. My father was very touched when hospice held that ceremony and the star means so much to our family. Thank you for all you do.
and families of Veterans Many carry them in their Bible or Wallet.
sent by a member of a church in Michigan
I was given one of your Stars by someone in Indiana. I am 38 year paramedic in the Chicagoland area. I just wanted to say thank you! What a cool idea you had. What you do is great!
cut me off and said there was nothing honorable about Vietnam and didn’t want to be reminded of it so leave me alone. I paused and then said “sir you proudly served your country so I want to honor you for that. He, grumbled and then walked away but his told me the war was very difficult for him so please forgive his attitude . I thanked her and asked her to thank him for me. As I was walking away he tearfully came up to my, shook my hand and thanked me; what a great moment.
I was given a star from a lady at the local American legion where I’m
a member. It really means alot to me. I asked her for another one and
I put it in my dad’s flag case that I was presented with at my dad’s
funeral. He served 23 years in the United States Army. I just want to
say you guys are awesome and I appreciate deeply what you do. Thank
you
I am an EMT and I was given a star for my service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was deployed through FEMA to New York City for two months working alongside FDNY responding to 911 calls. The first week we arrived, the FDNY was receiving about 7000 911 calls a day. It was an incredible experience working with people from all across the USA. It was an honor to work with all these amazing men and women who risked their lives during a very unpredictable time.
Heartland Hospice of Michigan has a wonderful Veteran Pinning Ceremony. We provide a star to each veteran and the story behind it. The pride they feel sometimes can’t be shared in words but it’s always in their eyes and facility expression! Thank you for all you do to honor our veterans.
I currently serve in the Ohio Naval Militia and I was given a star by my Senior Chief. I thought it was one of the best things ever so I decided to order my own stars. I now proudly distribute them to military members and veterans, police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel. It truly is wonderful way to show appreciation to those who serve to protect us.
Thank you for all that you do. You are truly appreciated!
A young man had given me this today. I was reminded of when I returned home from OIF in July of 2003. As we had gotten off the plane in Bangor Maine and were walking down to the terminal for about an hour layover we rounded the corner and to our surprise hundreds of people were there to welcome us home, it was surreal. A moment later a 10 year old boy asked me to sign his shirt because we were his heros. Shed tears then as well as today. The young man today was with the Scouts of St. Clair Shores MI in The Memorial Day Parade.He shook my hand and I gave him a hug, yep eyes are welling up writing this.
Yesterday at a new civilian doctor’s appointment (referred there by the VA) I was given this special little gift. What a kind gesture – it actually brought tears to my eyes being such an unexpected ‘thank you” for my military service way back in the early 70’s. As I sat waiting in the exam room reading the message I couldn’t help wondering where this flag’s star may have flown until it was retired. Old and tattered but still hopefully of some good use! Exactly like older veterans need to feel. Hopefully we still have some value to our country, family, friends and neighbors. Thank you for remembering us and our service in such a kind way.
Thank you StarsForOurTroops.org
God Bless America!
