another widow. Regardless of race or creed, we are able to communicate on an understanding basis not available through any other persons or organizations. There is always that painful adjustment that a widow must make from a member of the military community to a member of the civilian community.

In addition to charitable and civic improvement activities already listed as national programs, the local chapters assume numerous and varied activities and projects in their communities, as do the members at large in their own areas.

Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. maintains IRS No. 43-605-359 under section 501(c)(4) of title 26, United States Code.

Four, organized and operated for the primary purpose of conducting activities which are national in scope, and responsive to a national need so as to justify Federal incorporation.

Gold Star Wives of America officers, directors, and membersalthough limited in numbers, have rendered sincere and understanding support, assistance, and advice which only a widow can extend to another widow. Regardless of the best intentions of other veterans organizations to be of assistance, the fact remains that the only person who can be completely aware of a widow's problem is another widow. We know from experience and documented accounts in our files that members of our organization have provided the emotional stability necessary to enable a new service widow to face the future with courage-and in some instances, to even face the future at all.

There is no question about there being a national need for the services of Gold Star Wives of America. The unfortunate aspect is that thousands of service widows do not know there is a Gold Star Wives of America. We are striving to overcome the restrictions we have encountered. Had Gold Star Wives been federally chartered during the Vietnam years, many more new widows would have been able to know of our existence. The officers and directors of Gold Star Wives of America believe that our organization definitely does provide a unique service throughout the Nation that is unavailable from any other organization.

It has been the inability of Gold Star Wives of America to achieve an identity of its own which has hindered us at almost every turn in our efforts to make it known that we are available to be of service and assistance to service widows. Gold Star Wives of America is not an auxiliary of any organization; therefore, we have no sponsor. A widow's sponsor is her deceased husband, and therein lies much of our problem. It is essential that Gold Star Wives of America establish an identity of its own. A Federal charter could make this goal attainable.

Our organization is not interested in being granted a Federal charter other than to be recognized as a reputable organization and thereby be more effectively permitted to advise and assist all widows of servicemen and to be accorded the public recognition given other national service organizations.

We deserve to be granted the dignity of congressional endorsement in order that never again will any individual, organization, group, or department of any branch of our Government have reason to question the integrity of Gold Star Wives of America. We further believe that, as an organization of those who have borne

one of the heaviest burdens of this country's armed conflicts and defense the past 40 years, Gold Star Wives of America should not continuously be called upon to defend its integrity because it lacks congressional recognition-in other words, a Federal charter.

We trust that this committee will determine that Gold Star Wives of America merits the incorporation provided for in H.R. 154. Thank you.

Mr. DANIELSON. Thank you very much, Mrs. Chittick, and we also have Mrs. Edith Knowles, chairman of the board of directors. Mrs. Knowles, could we hear from you, please. You also have been kind enough to submit a written statement which again without objection will be received in the record, which makes you free to present your case in whatever manner you would like.

TESTIMONY OF EDITH V. KNOWLES, CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GOLD STAR WIVES OF AMERICA, INC.

[The prepared statement of Mrs. Knowles follows:]

STATEMENT SETTING FORTH NEED OF FEDERAL CHARTER FOR GOLD STAR WIVES OF AMERICA, INC.

(By Edith V. Knowles, Chairman, Board of Directors, Albany, Ga.)

Gold Star Wives have worked for years to increase our membership so we could help more widows and dependent children. But without the recognition of a Federal charter, we are confused with Gold Star Mothers. When recognition is given to the family of deceased servicemen, it is given to the Mothers, Fathers and Children, seldom to the Widow.

Having been active in Gold Star Wives since 1947, I have had many widows tell me they have never been told of Gold Star Wives. The have always wanted to belong to a national organization, such as ours. We are grateful to Congress for the increases in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Educational assistance, and other benefits. We have kept our members informed about these things by our National Newsletter, mailed quarterly. But there are many more widows that do not know about Gold Star Wives, or if they do, they wonder if it is a reputable organization.

At a National Veterans Day Observance in Birmingham, recently, Gold Star Wives' National President was introduced and all the Gold Star Wives present were asked to stand. Also American Gold Star Mothers were asked to stand. A high ranking Army officer brought greetings from the military. He recognized the military, the Reserve and National Guard, and Gold Star Mothers and went on with his speech. When we stopped him after the luncheon, he said he had never heard of Gold Star Wives of America. I commented that many servicemen are married. Doesn't Gold Star Wives of America, widows of our servicemen, deserve the recognition a Federal Charter would give it? What else will make Americans wake up and recognize Gold Star Wives as a reputable organization deserving of the provisions, privileges and prerogatives granted other national organizations?

Mrs. KNOWLES. It is very difficult for me to add anything to what Mrs. Chittick has said and I appreciate your giving us this opportunity to speak.

Gold Star Wives have worked for years to increase our membership so we could help more widows and dependent children. But without the recognition of a Federal charter, we are confused with Gold Star Mothers. When recognition is given to the family of deceased servicemen, it is given to the mothers, fathers, and children, seldom to the widow.

I was at Andersonville cemetery for Memorial Day and they left us out.

Having been active in Gold Star Wives since 1947, I have had many widows tell me they have never been told of Gold Star

Wives. They have always wanted to belong to a national organization, such as ours.

We are grateful to Congress for the increases in dependency and indemnity compensation, education assistance, and other benefits. We have kept our members informed about these things by our national newsletter, mailed quarterly. But there are many more widows that do not know about Gold Star Wives, or if they do, they wonder if it is a reputable organization. At a National Veterans Day observance in Birmingham, recently, Gold Star Wives' national president was introduced and all the Gold Star Wives present were asked to stand. Also American Gold Star Mothers were asked to stand. A high ranking Army officer brought greetings from the military. He recognized the military, the Reserve and National Guard, and Gold Star Mothers and went on with his speech. When we stopped him after the luncheon, he said he had never heard of Gold Star Wives of America. I commented that many servicemen are married. I testified somewhere else I have been investigated a couple of times by military bases because they had never heard of Gold Star Wives. They did not find anything detrimental to any record but this is happening. Thank you very much.

Mr. DANIELSON. Thank you very much, Mrs. Knowles, and we do have I am sure one other witness present, Mrs. Simonfy. Will you not come in and join us.

[The prepared statement of Mrs. Simonfy follows:]

TESTIMONY OF PEGGY SIMONFY REGARDING H. R. 154

June 16, 1980

[I'm

Im the widow of Lt. Col. John M. Simonfy, Jr., a B-52 radar navigator who was stationed at Westover Air He had 249 combat missions in

Force Base, Massachusetts.

Vietnam.

On January 7, 1971, the day before our son's sixth birthday, my husband substituted--on three hours notice-on a flight to certify a new navigator. About five hours after take-off and two hours prior to landing, I was told my husband's airplane had crashed into Lake Michigan. Three days later, the crew was declared dead. The aircraft was not recovered. Neither were the bodies of the crew.

Nine widows and 17 children were listed as survivors.

I would like to read a letter written by my husband

to our four-year-old son...

"7 Feb 69

Dear Christopher,

Sent Valentine cards to Sara and Marty, so think it's

only right that you get one, too.

It's hard for a Daddy to tell little boys like you how much he loves you, and the words on cards are pretty good, but everyone knows they're canned, and that anyone with the price of a card can say the same thing. No, when you really get down to it, Daddy's don't do a very good job of expressing their love to anyone, but that doesn't mean they don't love--maybe as much as Mamas!

We visited some really outstanding American boys during the past week, and I truly hope that when you reach that age you'll be capable of the same selfless love these boys are. I hope, fervently, that you won't have to go through what they are to prove it, but I'd sure like to think you're capable of the same thing. None of them would admit to it, of course, but these kids are the backbone of America.

I'm going to enclose a picture that I'd like to have your mother put away. It's of us talking with General Abrams, one of the high points of our trip. Guess he likes to spend some time with any crews that come through, but his schedule just does not permit very much of it.

Isn't it funny how nearly every picture shows my ring? This is in no way intentional, but maybe shows how a little bit of your mother is with me--always.