The Gold Star Mothers Story | Eastern North Carolina Now

    My memory may be a little bit inaccurate on this, but I remember a class grouping in the Auditorium to remember Memorial Day 1963. Principal Jackson called an assembly to remind us of the sacrifices made by Veterans during World War II and the Korean War Most of the students had relatives who served either in World War II or Korea but we were far from astute enough to realize what those veterans endured. That would soon change for some in the assembly.

    Ray Jackson was a tough man. One could easily tell from his face that he had worn boxing gloves sometime in his life. He appeared to be a man of strong belief and required discipline from his students as well as teachers.

    During the assembly, he recounted the dreary days of World War II and the challenges faced by the soldiers. No one doubted this as many of the boys were enamored of the old War Movies that we had seen. The mood shifted, however when he began to tell the story of the folks back at home.

    He produced a flag to show the audience. It was old and worn flag. Most of us had never seen one or even heard of one. The Class of 1963 Clarkston was born at the end of the war and probably had no memories of that time. As he began to explain the meaning of the Gold star, his voice seemed to strain and his voice grew hoarse.

    There began a slight movement of uneasiness in the audience as he explained that the flag represented a soldier who served in the war. Families would hang a flag in their window to indicate that they had a son or sons who were serving in the military. The longer he talked the more his emotions were exposed. I recall some snickering and low laughter at the sight of a man who we all thought to be stern, hard, and humorless begin to break down.

    He explained the history of flag. He told how the star would start out as a Blue star on the flag to indicate that the family had a son serving. If the he was killed the star would be changed or covered with a gold star.

    He ended the assembly with an emotional tribute to those fallen and their families. It took me many years and the loss of a few Brothers in Arms myself to understand the emotion that Mr. Jackson expressed during that assembly. I don't remember if I was one of the ones snickering but in my older years, not a single Memorial Day passes without me remembering that assembly, dim as it may be now, and the kids I knew who themselves turned into Gold Stars. Subsequent research shows that Mr. Jackson was a B-24 bombardier during World War II, serving in the U. S. Army Air Corps.
Ray Jackson presents me my diploma. He looks like he was just a glad to see me go as I was to finish High School.

    Publisher's note: Join Bobby Tony and others so inspired to discuss the "Teachers We Remember", a new, ongoing, and fully participatory series here on BCN.