Gold Star Mothers hope controversy leads to new focus

The controversy over Donald Trump’s response to a Gold Star family’s speech at the Democratic National Convention last month has only intensified.

Kazir Kahn responded to the latest reaction from Trump last weekend, telling CNN “And he should listen to America, what America and the world is telling about the remarks, about the lack of empathy.”

It comes as Trump told ABC News, “His wife, if you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably — maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say.”

A group of 40 Gold Star family members and veterans released a statement Monday which said – “To the military and veterans community,nothing is more sacred or honored than our Gold Star parents.”

And in Southern Colorado, the Pikes Peak Chapter of Gold Star Mothers says it’s heartbreaking that members of their national organization have become political talking points.

“Our heartache at the loss of a child is being exploited for politics,” said Silvia Buoniconti, president of the organization. “Whether it’s one side that attacks the mom, or the other side that uses the Gold Star family for political gain, is very disheartening.”

It’s a heartbreak she knows all too well. Her son, Frank, served for 17 years in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was killed in a mid-air helicopter collision in 2011. She said the pain of that loss has never left.

“A couple of days ago I was in the grocery store, going shopping I’d seen Italian Cream Soda. My son loved it. Tears started flowing, I had to hold myself together, not to sprint out of the store,” she said.

While she’s worried about the reason for the publicity, she hopes more people will learn about Gold Star families, and the service members lost protecting the country.

“If you see a Gold Star pin, say ‘hi’ and let us talk about our kids. You may see a tear here or there. As long as someone remembers, they’re not really gone.”