EXCLUSIVE: Gold Star family members thank President Trump, administration for a "beautiful evening" to commemorate sacrifice across generations
Attendees told the Washington Reporter that the contrast between Trump and Biden was clear as day when it comes to respecting Gold Star families.
President Donald Trump commemorated Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day by inviting Gold Star families from several of America’s wars to join him and top officials in his administration for a ceremony.
Several of those in attendance told the Washington Reporter that the reception was “thoughtful and beautiful,” “amazing,” and an opportunity to reflect on “the fabric of our great country [that was] made all the more special as we were in the company of a great president who values our servicemen and women and believes in peace through strength.”
Christy Shamblin, Cheryl Jules, and Herman Lopez all lost their loved ones during the Biden administration’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. All three are members of the Abbey Gate Coalition — a group of Gold Star family members that endorsed then-candidate Donald Trump in 2024 and brought the house down at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee.
“The Gold Star family reception was amazing; it was a very thoughtful and beautiful evening with other Gold Star families,” Shamblin told the Reporter. “The President and First Lady took time with every single family and remembered our loved ones’ ultimate sacrifice. Seeing and talking with other families who have walked this path before us and who are thriving was very powerful.”
“I am very grateful to have been there and went home feeling lighter, knowing that Nicole’s legacy is held and lives on by the highest offices of the USA,” Shamblin added. Shamblin was the mother-in-law of Sergeant Nicole Gee, who was killed by an ISIS-K suicide bomber on August 26th, 2021. Gee famously posted a picture holding an Afghan baby with the caption “I love my job” days before she was killed.
Attendees received copies of Trump’s proclamation that specifically singled out those whose loved ones were killed during Biden’s withdrawal.
“Last month, I was proud to meet with the Gold Star Families of the 13 service members who lost their lives in the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021,” Trump wrote in his proclamation. “Four years later, these families carry a burden of grief that is compounded by the absence of accountability and compassion from the previous administration. As Commander in Chief, I will never betray our warfighters or turn my back on their families. They deserve our enduring support and respect and an aggressive policy of peace through strength so that fewer families are shattered on the field of battle.”
Shamblin herself has already left a permanent legacy for future Gold Star families. Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) is using the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to allow for individuals who are a widow or widower, unmarried partner, parent, grandparent, child, stepchild, child through adoption, brother, half-brother, sister, half-sister, or step-sibling of a covered member of the Armed Forces, or other family member as the Secretary considers appropriate.
As Gee’s mother-in-law, Shamblin would not be entitled to many of the benefits that Gold Star parents would receive. “We are creating a path for the families of the future because we realize that any provision that does not include Christy Shamblin is no expansion at all,” Issa explained to the Reporter — which exclusively covered his legislation.
Gee’s aunt, Cheryl Jules, also told the Reporter that the White House dinner was “amazing.”
“From the moment we entered the White House grounds, we were greeted by military leaders from every branch, and made to feel welcomed and appreciated — and that feeling of gratitude for our children’s sacrifice to this country and ours as well, continued throughout the night,” Jules said. “The President and First Lady Melania Trump were gracious and kind and as always remembered Nicole, and asked how we were doing and thanked us for coming.”
“Everything was truly amazing, from conversations with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and his lovely wife, and other Gold Star Families to the food and decadent desserts,” she said. “We were also treated to music by the Marine Band Chamber Orchestra which was spectacular. Closing the night, they ended with America the Beautiful — and we left feeling grateful and proud to have a president back in office who genuinely cares for our military personnel and understands the sacrifices made by Gold Star families.”
Another Gold Star father, Herman Lopez, told the Reporter that the event was “amazing to attend.”
“This evening made me reflect on veterans and Gold Star families from the wars in Korea and Vietnam who also may not have had a warm reception,” Lopez said, referring to how President Joe Biden repeatedly stared at his watch as the American servicemembers killed at Abbey Gate in Kabul rolled past him in 2021.
However, with Trump back in the White House, Lopez said that “all was different as families who’ve lost loved ones from all modern wars were gathered at the White House; we were welcomed with dignity and respect deserving of the loss we remember every day.”
Herman’s son, Corporal Hunter Lopez, was killed alongside Gee and 11 other American servicemembers in August, 2021.
“This evening of remembrance was comforting in not only the welcome we received from President Trump and from the First Lady, but also by the ability to be around others who have the understanding of how to live a life much different from what we knew prior to the loss of a loved one in service to our country,” Lopez continued.
Many of the Gold Star families who attended specifically singled out Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), for praise. Gabbard, herself a decorated combat veteran, was among the many Trump administration officials who joined for the event.
Lopez reflected on the significance of the evening, in which he was able to spend time with Gold Star families whose sacrifices spanned decades of American wars.
“Spending the evening with other Gold Star families allowed me to reflect on what service to our country looks like,” Lopez said. “We were with the fabric of our great country, made all the more special as we were in the company of a great president who values our servicemen and woman and believes in peace through strength.”