About Us

Our Mission (listen)

  • To support our members and their sons and daughters who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces of
    the United States of America.
  • We proudly display the Blue Star Flag whose history dates back to WWI.
  • We come together to share our devotion, our pride, and to offer moral support to our community and our members, their families, and friends, as well as to veterans.
  • We are a non-profit (501[c]3) service organization supporting each other and our children while promoting patriotism.

http://ribluestarmoms.com/support-ri-blue-star-moms/

We offer a safe place to share thoughts, concerns, and
any personal stories which are kept solely within the group.

Current and Previous Administrations

In 2006, during the height of the War in Iraq, a small group of women founded the Rhode Island chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America. Like many of us, they had a great need. Tremendous love, pride and fear which bound them together. These women gave us more than they can ever know. Without the Blue Star Moms many of us would be alone. The original founders were: Donna Ponte, Joyce Courtney, Sue Lavoie, Lisa Normandin, Marcia Buehner, Lynn Sampson, Mary Ellen Cimino and Rennie Simmons. There will never be words to adequately thank them.

Officers- 2022-2023

 
President– Mary Grace
VP- Betty Leach
Treasurer- Jennifer Dyer
Financial Secretary- Joanne Wallace
Recording Secretary- Tori Jessop-Crowley

 

 

Officers- 2020-2021

President– Mary Grace
VP- Betty Leach
Treasurer- Joanne Wallace
Financial Secretary- Norma Malachowski
Recording Secretary- Sandy White
Chaplains- Doreen Holmes/Tanya Smith

 

 

Officers- 2018-2019

President – Jenn Ahrens 

Vice President- Mary Grace Marceau

Secretary – Linda Markley
 
Treasurer – Joanne Wallace
 
Financial Secretary – Ann Enos
 

Chaplains – Doreen Holmes and Tanya Smith

Officers- 2017-2018

  • President – Betty Leach
  • Vice President – Jenn Ahrens
  • Treasurer – Joanne Wallace
  • Assistant Treasurer – Rennie Simmons
  • Secretary – Dorothy Healy
  • Chaplain – Doreen Holmes
  • Membership – Rennie Simmons
  • Sunshine Club – Doreen Holmes

Officers- 2016-2017

  • President – Rhonda Ziehl
  • Vice President – Pat Casey
  • Treasurer – Linda Condon
  • Financial Secretary-Shirl Guiliano
  • Secretary – Lori Moniz
  • Chaplain – Tanya Smith
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Officers- 2015-2016

    • President – Rhonda Ziehl
    • Vice President – Pat Casey
    • Treasurer – Lisa McGuire
    • Financial Secretary-Linda Condon
    • Secretary – Lori Moniz
    • Chaplain – Tanya Smith


  • Officers- 2014-2015

    • President – Cindy Gaccione
    • Vice President – Rennie Simmons
    • Treasurer – Ellen Friedenfelda
    • Financial Secretary- Ann Enos
    • Secretary – Rhonda Ziehl
    • Chaplain – Tanya Smith
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    • Officers- 2013-2014

    • President – Cindy Gaccione
    • Vice President – Rennie Simmons
    • Treasurer – Lori DeRobbio
    • Financial Treasurer-Anne Enos
    • Financial Secretary-Anne Enos
    • Secretary – Rhonda Ziehl
    • Chaplain –Doreen Holmes
    • Sunshine Club – Susan Wilson
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  • Officers- 2012-2013

  • President – Ann Enos
        • Vice President –
        • Treasurer –
        • Financial Treasurer-
        • Secretary –
        • Chaplain –
        • Sunshine Club –

  • Officers- 2010-2012

  • President – Betty Leach
  • Vice President –Dorothy Healy
  • Treasurer – Laura Langley
  • Secretary – Rosemarie Moretti
  • Chaplain – Doreen Holmes
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  • BSMA, INC. Constitution, Article I, Section I
  • Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., the “Corporation,” is a federally chartered Corporation. The
    Corporation shall be a non-political , non sectarian , nondiscriminatory , and non-profit organization ,
    and shall not be used for personal or partisan purposes.
  • Article II
    The mission of the Corporation shall be:
  • ● To support the Armed Forces of the United States of America and its Veterans
    ● To advocate for America’s Armed Forces and those men and
    women who have served their
    country with honor
    ● To maintain allegiance to the United States
    ● To educate our members and others not to divulge
    military or other government information
    ● To assist and participate in ceremonies which
    honor, remember and support our military men and
    women, and veterans
  • ● To honor those families whose children have
    died in service to our country
    ● To assist in the care of unsupported mothers
    who gave their children to the service of the Nation
    ● To foster true democracy
    ● To assist in Homeland Security
    ● To uphold the American principles of
    freedom, justice and equal rights, and to defend the United
    States from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
  •  
  •  The Service Flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities.The history of the Service Flag is as patriotic and touching as the symbolism each star represents to the families that display them.The service flag (also known as “blue star banners” or “son in service flags”) was designed and patented by World War I Army Captain Robert L. Queissner of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. President Wilson became part of its history when in 1918 he approved a suggestion made by the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses that mothers who had lost a child serving in the war to wear a gold gilt star on the traditional black mourning arm band.This led to the tradition to cover the blue star with a gold star on the Service flag to indicate that the service member has died or been killed.The color of the stars is also symbolic in that the blue star represents hope and pride and the gold star represents sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom.